THE SECRET STATE
These Boys In The Band Have Their Own
Ideas On What It Takes To Rock The World...

From the Editor
Suzanne Takowsky
suzanne@suzannetakowsky.com

A Night of Beauty...
A Lifetime of Empowerment...

The Chrysalis Program
Today, more than ever we have to make a commitment
to help those who need a hand. So many times we find ourselves stuck in a “poor me” mode thinking about what we
DON’T have. BUT what about what we DO have. We must
start being grateful for all the blessings that come into our
lives, and forget about acquiring “other stuff” that in the
overall picture doesn’t really mean a thing. Not all we want
we will get. And that’s OK. The universe somehow finds
a way to bring us what we need, and those are the blessings that truly enrich our lives and bring happiness to our
hearts. Right now there are millions of people struggling not
to get ahead BUT with an urgent need to survive and feed,
house and protect their families. By supporting organizations dedicated to helping people get to the next level in
life, we will find that our own lives become enriched.
Each spring, Chrysalis, a nonprofit organization that creates a pathway to self-sufficiency for homeless and lowincome individuals by offering the resources and support
needed to help them find and retain employment, hosts a
Chrysalis’ Women’s Empowerment Program’s female clients
nine-week Women’s Empowerment Program. The event
getting
pampered at Planet Salon in Beverly Hills, California
concludes with “MAKEOVER NIGHT” – a fabulous and
transforming day-at-the-beauty-salon experience that truly
makeup applications and beautiful clothes to wear on their new
brings out the hidden beauty in attendees. This year’s event in
job interviews. The women who completed the program had an
April was hosted by Planet Salon, in Beverly Hills, California.
opportunity to look and feel their best inside and out and then, off
Stylists and makeup artists volunteered to transform the 35
they went with all the tools necessary to help them feel more
women in the program with complimentary haircuts and styling,
confident about securing their upcoming job
possibilities. PLUS, a room of beautiful women
emerged looking gorgeous from head to toe.
Chrysalis’ services in Los Angeles County
prepare for, attain, and sustain employment,
giving clients a hand up, not a hand out as they
build on their strengths reducing or eliminating
any barriers to finding employment. Clients work
closely with their Employment Specialists to build
an employment plan for short-and long-term goals.
In 2012, Chrysalis assisted more than 3,300 men
and women in their job search with 1,781 of those
securing employment. The “feel-good” stories
the Chrysalis’ Women’s Empowerment Program
provides can’t be put into words. The personal
and professional transformations created are
nothing less than miraculous, helping people out
of the depths of hopelessness and into a world of
endless possibility. For more information, please
visit www.changelives.org.
Many thanks to Planet Salon, 323 S. Robertson
Blvd., Beverly Hills, California.
Photo credit: Kristen Hanson l
The beautiful and transforming before and after photos of Brenda Hearn
part of the Chrysalis Women’s Empowerment Program

“Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in
our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race;
we kept them free; we kept the faith.” — Ronald Reagan
10 // bhtmag.com //

I Have A Dream Foundation
Helping Kids Get A Better Education
and Have A Better Life

Helping kids in Los Angeles who don't get much
help at all when it comes to their education, or having
a better life, The 'I Have a Dream" Foundation - Los
Angeles, adopts a third grade class and stays with
them through the 12th grade. If students graduate,
then incredibly “The I Have A
Dream Foundation” will pay for the
students college tuition. This is
the 25th anniversary of IHADLA
with a class of seniors on their
way to graduation in the Boyle
Heights school district. And this
time of the year, it’s the grass
roots “Prom Dress Drive” as was
seen on ABC7 news which profiled Beverly Hills High School
students who generously donated
prom dresses they had collected
for this special event. Defining
courage in motion, an amazing
group of young people from Boyle
Heights defied all odds when they
completed their schooling up to
Rebeca Samayoa
high school graduation and went
onto achieving their dreams of
going to college. Some are set to
attend Stanford, Mills, USC,
and UCLA to name a few. The
“I Have A Dream Foundation”
needs your help to gain more
support so they can continue
to support more kids throughout the LA area to help them
to succeed in life. Students
from Lincoln and Wilson high
schools picked prom clothes,
shoes and accessories for the
biggest dance of the year and
other items they will be able to
use as they head to upcoming
job interviews. The foundation
works with students in impoverished communities helping them
as they work towards their goals
for a better life. A heartfelt thanks
goes out to students and schools
Wendy Perez
who participated in the ongoing
efforts of the “I have A Dream Foundation”. l

Magali Ramirez

Leslie Robles

Billy Crystal & Steve Martin

Performer Billy Ray Cyrus

4 // bhtmag.com //

Joe Manganiello making wise cracks

Anibal Diaz

Efrian Riquelme

Alvaro Melchor

Juan Zyiniga

The

Power of a Mastermind Group

Real Estate Investment
Management Entrepreneur

Denis Burke
What

is a Mastermind? A Mastermind is the
gathering of two or more for the honorable purpose of studying, learning, assessing problems, evaluating ideas and finding solutions using the collective power of their thoughts to
generate greater results and, it’s been around for over 100
years. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie (richest man in America
in the 1880’s) had 50-plus people engaged in Masterminds in
various facets of his diversified business. He believed that a positive mental attitude was the
most vital thing each member brought to the group and that fear, doubt and negativity destroyed
it. Mastermind Groups need a specific mission and focus. Some are for education so members
study and learn; others solve problems like addictions to drugs, alcohol and food. Most are
for business where trust, confidentiality, and integrity are important for success and it’s necessary to establish a Code of Honor and commitment among members.
When people unify their minds and focus on a specific solution, vibrations of their thoughts
bring a greater result than an individual thinking on their own. To understand the power of a
Mastermind, you must understand how the human mind works. The mind consists of the conscious and subconscious. The conscious mind is the thinking mind. The subconscious mind is
our emotional mind. Most people believe their mind is in their brain. But, the mind is in every cell
in our body. The brain is like a switching station. The mind is neither a location nor a destination
in a human, it’s pure essence—spiritual with a superior power fueled by a higher authority and
serves as our mechanism to function. Years ago, J B. Rhine, a renowned mind expert at Duke
University said, “The mind is the greatest creation in all of mankind.” I think he was right. The
subconscious mind is active day or night, even when we sleep and vulnerable and receptive to
information, both good and bad, which it receives from our sensing faculties. Research shows
that minds vibrate at various rates of speed and like a radio broadcasting station receive and
transmit thoughts. Evidence of this was discovered by Dr. Alexander Graham Bell and Dr. Elmer
Gates when they determined it was possible to run human voice across copper lines. You have
the ability to pick up thought vibrations of a person and someone else simultaneously picks up
your thoughts. An example is a married couple deciding to dine out. One says “honey, why don’t
we go to Gino’s for Pizza.” Then the other spouse realizes he/she had the same thought.
Mastermind Groups don’t have to be living to gain strength and benefit. An interesting phenomenon in creating a powerful Mastermind Alliance is it can be developed in your imagination with
people who have passed away, as they have the same spiritual essence as when they were in
this world. The main difference after passing is they are no longer in a tangible, physical form.
You can’t see them, but with meditation can slow vibrations of your mind to an alpha state by
counting 25-1 or 10-1 backwards. When you engage in active visualization for 15 minutes in the
morning and 15 minutes at night, you’ll significantly improve your imagination—one of 6 mental
faculties we possess. The imagination is like a mental muscle. The more it is enhanced, the
more benefit it brings. Be patient in the beginning. It takes time for this magic power to reveal itself.
In the book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill shared his experience of forming a Mastermind
Alliance with former Presidents, business leaders and prominent people he knew who passed
away. The description he gave of his extraordinary results from this form of mastermind convinced me to try it. I’ve formed a daily Mastermind Alliance, using visualization and my imagination with my mother, younger sister and older brother—all have passed away. I’ve created a
beautiful boardroom setting and see them crystal clear, sitting there smiling and happy. At first,
the vision of them was fairly faded, but as I continued to practice, a picture of them became
clear. I communicate with them as if they were here, by speaking aloud in a normal tone. I’ve
shared challenges, opportunities and situations I’m dealing with personally and in business, and
have great faith they have solutions beyond me. After two weeks I began to receive empowered
strength, guidance and direction like I’ve never felt before. The more you practice and the longer
you stick with it, the greater the results you will achieve. What you’re doing is tapping into your
inner powers and higher intelligence using visualization and imagination. You won’t be asleep
during this exercise, but have your eyes closed and be very relaxed. You’ll be aware of your
surroundings at all times. When you are ready to come out of meditation, count from 1-5, you
will awake, eyes open and feel great. You will feel like you slept a full night’s sleep.
**This is not the practice of necromancy, nor is it my purpose to promote it.
Dr. Denis Burke is a Senior Consultant and the Founder of www.MindDestiny.com. He may
be reached for a FREE Consultation by email Denis@MindDestiny.com or 877-997-MIND.
No part of this article may be copied or reprinted without permission. You may now sign up
for our Success Mastermind Webinars “Think and Grow Rich” or The Science of Getting
Rich” by emailing SuccessMastermind@MindDestiny.com l

8 // bhtmag.com //

When You Are Away From Home...

For Special Occasions or An Evening out...
Four Star Hotel Luxury

Just minutes from the most famous city in the world...Beverly Hills and
a short drive to the famed beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica,
The InterContinental Hotel presents 361 spacious guest rooms including 148
suites with glorious panoramic views. Guests enjoy elegant four star dining
options in the hotel, a relaxing live music lobby lounge, SPA InterContinental,
24 hour fitness center, rooftop yoga and Zumba, sauna & steam room, outdoor
heated infinity swimming pool and 15,000 sq ft of event space.
InterContinental Hotel â&#x20AC;˘ Century City, Los An geles, CA 90067
2151 Avenue of the Stars Front Desk 310.284.6500

LOS ANGELES where movie history plays a major role and
keeps us on the map, one of the most historical clubs is the Beverly Hills Country Club.
Founded in 1926, by Elmer Griffin, the uncle of famed entertainer Merv Griffin, the Club
has for decades represented the social, community, business and entertainment venue for
VIPs from all walks of life. More than simply a place for fun, the Club is a family tradition that
represents excellence at every turn. From a tennis match, day at the spa, private event, party,
or a romantic dinner—the Beverly Hills Country Club is a cozy home-away-from-home where
members are treated like family—and have been for generations. Located minutes from FOX
and MGM studios, the Club is an accessible destination for successful professionals from
every industry, offering options of privacy, accommodations, main dining room menu, outdoor terrace casual eating, intimate bar, larger lounge area, recreational sports and atmosphere for either a quiet meeting or large group gathering—and is open every day!
Weekdays 5:30 am-10:00 pm
Saturday 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Sunday 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Valet services during the
day and into the evening.

Beverly Hills
Country Club Members Enjoy

• Olympic Size Heated Pool
• Indoor & Outdoor Dining
• Social Areas, Meeting Rooms, • Cardio & Weight Room
• Health & Fitness Spa
Clubhouse, Banquet Room
Fine dining, exceptional service and catering
• Sauna & Steam Room
•
10
Lighted
Tennis
Courts
for special events, with intimate spaces for private
parties, entertaining business clients or relaxing at • Golf, Pro Shop, Game Room • Group/Private Workouts
the pool with a glass of wine. Members have privi- • Children’s Pools, Child Care • Massage Services
leges at the Calabasas Country Club which offers
an 18-hole championship golf course in the scenic and natural setting of the Calabasas country side catering to golfers at all skill levels—for men, women and juniors, complete with golf
clinics and superb practice facilities designed by golf pro Dave Pelz. Practice area
offers four chipping and pitching greens, two putting greens and three practice
bunkers. Reciprocal access privileges at participating Passport Clubs throughout
the world. Choose a vacation destination, confirm availability of the facilities in that
location and inquire about using your Beverly Hills Country Club member card during
your visit. The Membership office at the Beverly Hills Country Club can assist if you
need a letter of introduction. A variety of daily exercise classes are offered from
cycling, strength training,
yoga, pilates, total body
conditioning, to belly and
Zumba dancing and low
impact training. l

Time less Elegance...
Unforgettable Style...
From First Ladies To International Superstars —
When It comes To The Sophistication of Business
Attire, the Lavishness of Haute Couture and the Opulence
of Bridal Splendor — All Eyes Turn To International

“I feel one of my greatest design contributions
is my introduction of ethnic fashion to the world
more than 25 years ago. The writings of peace,
happiness and love I inscribe on many pieces in
my collection are considered my signature work
and recognized worldwide.” — Shahla Dorriz

Designer Shahla Dorriz, Secretary of
S tate Hillary Clinton and Miss Fariba
at a Persian charity event in San Francisco.

Breathtaking is one way to describe the aweinspiring romantic flair for the designs of famed fashion
designer Shahla Dorriz. For more than 20 years, she
has thrilled runways from New York to Paris with ethnic
fashion, and now more than ever, high-profile women
from politics to society, business and entertainment are
wearing her fashions to promote a heartfelt alliance for
world peace, love and compassion. Shahla’s couture has
graced red carpets worldwide from the Oscars and Emmys
on television soap operas, and the big screen, and are
seen regularly on the pages of international magazines.
“Each piece I create is with vision and purpose for love,
of life and happiness,” stated Shahla. “My fashions appeal
to women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds and women
everywhere who appreciate the experience of wearing
finely designed clothing.”
Recently, at a concert in Dubai, international singing
superstar Natalie Cole dazzled a sold-out crowd wearing a
custom, hand-painted gown designed for her by Shahla.
The legendary Ms. Cole told her thrilled audience, “It’s
nice to see you, it’s nice to be seen. The dress has writings
from the 13th century Arabic poet Rumi (referring to him
as the Shakespeare of Persia), they are all about love,” she
added as she elegantly walked to the edge of the stage to
present an extended look at her show-stopping gown.
Make your next grand entrance in unforgettable style.
Visit the collections of both Shahla and Alexandre Dorriz
(her son) at their fabulous showroom in Beverly Hills.

RED BULL CURATES:
THE CANVAS COOLER PROJECT
Art lovers flocked to West Hollywood’s Factory West for the Red Bull Curates:

Known

for creating iconic creatures in films
such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,
Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Momma’s House 2,
Mrs. Doubtfire, Passion of the Christ, Van Helsing,
Hannibal, GI JOE: RETALIATION and numerous
others including the upcoming Iceman, starring
James Franco and Sony’s—The Smurfs, Todd’s
the guy who keeps us glued to our seats, scared
and screaming, but enthralled. Having worked
on more than 100 films/TV shows with the biggest actors and directors in the biz, Todd’s entrepreneurial vision came full circle two years ago
when he and his business partner Ron Halvas
who had worked as a team for years, founded
Illusion Industries, in Los Angeles. Two years later, they had expanded their
special effects, prosthetic makeup, animatronics, puppets, specialty costumes, and design expertise to New Orleans and Moscow offices as well.
An only child, Todd says he spent the majority of his youth at the movies
mesmerized by films such as Star Wars, The Dark Crystal and Gremlins. His
talent for drawing and sculpting detailed creatures and characters revealed itself
early and he remembers knowing even at a young age he wanted to work in the
movie business. During high school and as a hobby, he learned to sculpt and
create his own unique creatures. An advanced higher education and four years
building his portfolio followed, before moving to LA and getting his first major
film work as a key artist on Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film, "Hook" with Robin
Williams. He said, "I did not take it for granted. I knew I had to work hard to
keep working on major films." As for his favorite jobs, he says prosthetic makeup is the most enjoyable because of the process of transforming an actor and
bringing that character to life. And, his favorite movie to work on was a comic
book movie called, Trailer Park of Terror where his team created a redneck
zombie family, and on the movie he got to produce and 2nd Unit Direct the film.
Any advice for on-the-rise movie sculptors, molders and animators?
“Learn to sculpt, mold, fabricate and apply. There are books and DVDs available
online that offer a step-by-step guide and various techniques. Purchase material you need and, then practice over and over. When you feel you have enough
experience, then put your best work into a portfolio to showcase your art.
Research different make-up FX companies and try to get an interview to show
Visit: www.IllusionIndustries.com
them your work. That’s what I did.” l

14 // bhtmag.com //

The Canvas Cooler Project where 20 artists transformed blank canvas-wrapped Red
Bull coolers into works of art. Artists were paired with local bar, lounges and restaurants owners where the custom pieces will live forever in glory and pride. Judges
were John Heilman (City of West Hollywood Councilmember/former Mayor), Holly
Harrison (Curatorial Administrator of
Contemporary Art at LACMA) and
Marsea Goldberg (New Image Art
Gallery). Artists James Haunt and
White Buffalo were touted the two winners
and will showcase their artwork at SCOPE
Miami during Art Basel in December. When
asked how she narrowed down 20 artists to
two winners, Goldberg said, “I wanted to find
somebody who was not only talented and
original but hungry and deserved the break.
I looked for somebody that was identifiable
and fresh in a new genre.”
Haunt (28) born/raised in LA trained in
digital design in high school developing a
Canvas Cooler Project Winner James Haunt
passion for art and creativity. “This is the
first project that I reintroduced my stencil
work. I wanted to step it up and do something next level and intriguing; on one side
there is a very intricate city scene with an
explosion, a crashed cop car and buildings
in the back. There are also eyes looking into
your eyes. It’s personal for me. Downtown
LA is where I reside. Sometimes the beauty
of the drama is what intrigues me.. it was a
tribute to that.” Buffalo said she felt like the
underdog coming into this exhibition, “The
little buffalo among the big dogs.” The 25years-old from a small town in South Dakota
Canvas Cooler Project Winner White Buffalo
came to LA two years ago to pursue art.
A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, she studied studio art at Iowa State and wants to
educate people about Native Americans and the struggle, strength and beauty of her culture,
which is why her art is so personal to her. “Everything is really organic. I wanted to make it
an outburst of expression and put all of my feelings into it. I paint buffalos because they’re
strong and represent my people and headdresses because they represent my culture. I
used charcoal, chalk and pencil, whatever was at my disposal. I paint on different types of
paper and collage it in there so it’s a painting within a painting.”
Other artists were 2WENTY, AJL, Allison Hueman Torneros, Blinky Óne, Dan Monteavaro,
Jill Knox, Look At, Man One, Mear One, Rose Masterpol, Sand One, SEK, SEPTERHED,
TaylorSays, Teebs and Vyal One. Participating LA venues: The Bungalow, Viceroy Hotel,
The Viper Room, Rock & Reilly’s, Pink Taco Sunset Strip, Brick+Mortar, The Craftsman,
Barcopa, Akbar, La Cita, The Association, Salvage, Crocker Club, The Federal, KCRW
Radio, Ameoba Music, Well and Mack Sennett Studios. This was the second in a series
Visit www.redbullusa.com/curates
of seven Canvas Cooler Project showcases. l

HORNBURG LAND ROVER LOS ANGELES

The All New Range Rover

HORNBURG

: 9176 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood,

90069 310.432.5900 • www.HornburgLA.com

HORNBURG JAGUAR LOS ANGELES
// bhtmag.com // 15

ATELIER HEALTH
Cardiovascular Health Program
While most people worry about CANCER...
HEART DISEASE is the #1 killer for men and women.
Sadly, the first signs that a person has heart
disease is seen in “sudden cardiac death.”

MOST people start worrying about heath and disease
AFTER they become ill. Certainly it’s true that preventative health care can be the best medicine money can
buy. But with the rat race we live and try to survive in...
how many of us bother to take the time to seriously
evaluate our family health history, health challenges and
lifestyle influences that are ruining our health? None of
us know what could be around the corner in the way of
a disastrous health crisis. But what we do know is that
if we make our health a priority, and if we make a health
conscious lifestyle plan, and stick to it—we just might
have a fighting chance where chronic disease and a
sudden health crisis comes into play. It’s not just about
staying “alive”... it’s about being alive and healthy!
I spoke with Dr. Ram Dandillaya, a leading cardiologist, noted clinical research physician and renowned
expert in every phase of heart disease and preventative
care. With five Board Certifications under his belt, the man
is not just impressive on paper; in person his presence
is impactful, and what he has to say could save your life!
ST: How did you choose the name Atelier Health
and what makes your heartcare practice different?
RD: Atelier in the art/fashion worlds means an artisan's
workshop. My partners and I came up with the concept
to emphasize that medicine is both art and a science.
We offer a unique and personalized experience for each
patient. What sets Atelier Health apart is our commitment
to excellence in coordinating every detail of a patient's
care and engage the best in technology, science, and
state-of-the-art wellness strategies. In the current era of
managed and accountable care, health care has sadly
lost its personal and customized touch for patients. We
work with the finest doctors and practitioners in multiple
health delivery networks, whether it’s Cedars-Sinai, USC
or UCLA. In select, complex cases, we coordinate the
care of a patient out of state, to top networks as Mayo
Clinic or Cleveland Clinic. We advocate for our patients
and, we find the best doctors to solve their problems.
ST: Instead of waiting for a health crisis to unfold,
are people taking a more proactive stance regarding
their health?
RD: I would say a qualified yes. Many of the proactive
patients have had a personal experience with a relative
or friend that compels them to come in for a health

16 // bhtmag.com //

evaluation. However, heart
disease is a silent killer and
people can feel well until the
later stages of the disease.
This is why “preventive
strategies” such as coronary
calcium scans and carotid
IMT screening are very useful in the absence of any
symptoms that might arise.
The new Atelier Health facility on Robertson Blvd.,
north of Wilshire, opened its doors to unveil a cutting-edge
center with a full range of Internal Medicine and Cardiology care systems. All the physicians are advocates of
preventative care. With a rise in health concerns, what
Dr. Dandillaya and his team of Board Certified cardiologists and medical experts (all affiliated with Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center) offer is a customized and individualized
medical plan, backed with the most advanced techno-

logical services available, and a top network of physicians in every modality that are available to meet your
needs across the board. Dr Dandillaya’s patient roster
includes top politicians, celebrities, socialites, entertainment heavyweights and VIPs around the globe from
every industry. His work in cardiology research, care
and preventative medicine is internationally recognized
and has made him a top heart physician to pro-athletes,
international patients, and royalty.

“My motivation in opening
this facility is the cold hard fact
that heart disease kills more men
and women than any other
disease. While we have made
tremendous progress in certain
areas of cardiology, the fact
remains that we have not
moved forward enough.
Heart disease kills more people
than all cancers combined.
The medical impact necessary
to reduce the increasing
numbers of people dying from
heart disease needs to increase...
we need to do more.”
— Dr. Ram Dandillaya
ST: What do you offer that can be viewed as the basic
elements for achieving a healthy heart lifestyle?
RD: We emphasize our Comprehensive Physical, "The
Program" which is done on an annual basis. Heart problems and disease can easily go unnoticed by patients
until it is too late. Our goal is to increase an individual's
health span through aggressive screening programs and
close follow-up of cardiometabolic parameters through
laboratory analysis and imaging. Assessment and treatment of inflammation, through established and novel
methodologies (such as cytokine analysis) is a key component of our program. Our research based and clinically
validated protocols focus on advanced lipid and metabolic analysis, advanced atherosclerosis imaging, and
lifestyle modification. Depending on a patient’s age and
risk profile, we not only screen for cardiovascular disease, but help identify root causes of disease, including

inflammation, genetic, and environmental factors. At
Atelier Health we utilizes a battery of tests to create a
risk “fingerprint” for each individual. Traditional methods
of evaluation that are used including the Framingham
model, significantly underestimate global cardiac risk,
particularly in women and certain ethnic groups.
ST: What are the 3 biggest causes of bad health and
the top 3 elements for good health?
RD: Stress. People need to develop an ability to cope
better with stress in jobs and relationships because the
stress is not going away. Unhealthy eating. We all have
choices when it comes to what we eat. Why choose foods
that don’t protect your body? We know what good food is
and we know what bad food is. It’s an easy decision to
make when your health and life, and that of loved ones is
on the line. Lack of exercise. It may sound redundant,

but not “moving” contributes to bad health. We sit in a
car, we sit in front of a computer, we sit and watch TV,
we sit in the movies, we sit when we are with family and
friends... Get up and MOVE. Exercise. Walk. Take the
stairs not the elevator. Go to the gym. Do something each
day. For good health eat a diet low in saturated fat and
cholesterol and high in fruits, vegetables and healthy oils.
Check your health regularly. You have a better chance to
stay healthy if you catch a potential problem before it
turns into a chronic disease or life-threatening illness.
Yes, genetics plays a part in health, but you can counteract
many genetic factors with proactive medical care and
lifestyle changes (no smoking, improved diet, etc.) And
I would say that getting enough sleep is extremely important. Improving your sleep habits improves your overall
mental and physical health because while you sleep, your
body is literally regenerating itself. l

phones are a
staple in our lives.
But how much do
you really know
about something
you never leave
home without?
There are a few
things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.
Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an
emergency tool for survival.

#1 — Emergency
Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112.
If you’re out of the coverage area for your cell network dial
112 and your cell phone will search any existing network
to establish the emergency number for you. The emergency
number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.

#2 — Hidden Battery Power
What if your cell phone battery is very low? To activate,

18 // bhtmag.com //

press the keys *3370#.
Your cell will restart with the
reserve and the instrument
will show a 50% increase
in battery. The reserve gets
charged when you charge
your cell.

#3 — (How to
disable a STOLEN
mobile phone?)

To check your Mobile
phone's serial number... key in the following Digits
on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code appears on the
screen. This number is unique to your handset. Keep it
somewhere safe. If your phone is stolen, phone your
service provider and give them this code. They can
then block your handset so even if the thief changes the
SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You might
not get your phone back, but whoever stole it ... can't
use or sell it. If everybody does this, there would be no
point in people stealing mobile phones.

#4 — Free Directory Service for Cells
Cell phone companies charge $1.00 to $1.75 and
more for 411 information calls. But, they don't have to.
Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our cars.
This makes the situation even more of a problem. When
you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial:
(800) FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any
charges at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

This Is Sponsored By McDonalds

How To
Make an
Emergency
Request
If there is a
dangerous emergency involving
a serious health
crisis, life-altering injury or death to a person that Twitter
may have information necessary to prevent —you can
make an emergency disclosure request to Twitter by
sending an email to: lawenforcement@twitter.com.
(which is continuously monitored).
SUBJECT LINE:
Emergency Disclosure Request.
Don’t forget to please include all of the following
information for speedy compliance:
1. Identify the person who is in danger of death
or serious physical injury.
2. Identify the nature of the emergency (e.g., report of
suicide, bomb threat etc.).
3. Twitter @username and URL (e.g., @safety and
https://twitter.com/safety) of the subject account(s)
whose information is necessary to prevent the emergency.
4. Identify any specific Tweets you would like reviewed
along with the specific information requested and why that
information is necessary to prevent the emergency and
any other details or context regarding the circumstance.
5. You can also FAX emergency requests:
1-415-222-9958. Faxed requests may result
in a delayed response. l

“It’s Only Weed, Mom!”
In my 30 years of practice as a psychotherapist, and 10 years as
a NeuroIntegration therapist (balancing the brain cells), I have never
seen this much attraction and desirability to abuse drugs and
medications amongst our youth. America has the highest rate
of adolescent drug use among all industrialized nations.
By Dr. Nanaz M. Pirnia, Ph.D., MFT

More

than ever our children are looking for ways to
relax, feel numb, and free of stress. Sadly, they’ve developed a culture of self-medicating to deal with problems.
This attitude endangers their well being and future. Without considering the heavy risks involved with self-medicating, they put their lives in danger. More alarming are the
pharmaceutical companies that benefit from the increase
of unnecessary drug sales. The hard fact is that doctors
do not use proper discretion when prescribing drugrelated medications. Practically anyone complaining of
symptoms, regardless of his/her age, can gain access
to hazardous and addictive prescription medication.
Drug education should begin at home with parents.
Our children are growing up in a digital era where misinformation about substance use
is often wrong. It’s time for families to come together and fight
the drug epidemic. With our children’s lives at risk, we can’t allow
the media, drug culture or pharmaceutical companies to hijack,
brainwash, and destroy our children’s brains and futures. You
must become knowledgeable
about drugs in order to speak
with your children on issues of
drug abuse. Drug addiction,
overdose, accidents due to alcohol/drug use, irreversible
body/brain injuries ...drug abuse the #1 problem among
our youth. How far will you go to save your child’s life?

MARIJUANA
Marijuana is the most commonly used drug. Medical
marijuana is legal in 18 states which translates into
removing state-level criminal penalties for those who possess a “written or oral recommendation” from a physician
stating they “would benefit from medical marijuana.” BUT
the amount of marijuana a person is allowed to possess
is outlined by the law, and limited to an amount deemed
appropriate ONLY for personal use. State laws regarding
the use of marijuana have nothing to do with Federal law.
Regardless of any state laws, there is no such thing as
“medical marijuana” under Federal law. Marijuana is a
Schedule I substance, meaning that it has no accepted

“medical use” and is considered a high potential for
abuse. Marijuana remains illegal under Federal law
and can be prosecuted for use, selling or growing.
Marijuana and Hashish (Cannabis) come from an
Indian hemp plant. Children argue that marijuana is a
plant and not harmful. The true answer: yes, it’s a plant.
No, it’s not safe. Marijuana is a drug, a hallucinogen; a
psychedelic that distorts reality, perception and awareness. Some 400 chemicals create distortion and alteration that occurs in the brain. The main ingredient is THC
(Tetrahydrocannabinol) varies
from plant to plant, but percentages of THC has greatly
increased in the last 20 years,
making marijuana harmful.
THC remains in the body for
many months gradually destroying organs and damaging
the immune system.

YOUR CHILD MAY NOT KNOW

• Marijuana is highly addictive.
Side effects are more than other drugs, destroying brain
cells and body organs and it is as poisonous to the brain
and body as tobacco is to the lungs.
• Marijuana smoke has 50%-70% more cancer-causing
substances than tobacco smoke (one Marijuana joint can
damage the lung as up to 5 cigarettes that are smoked in
sequence). Regular use and/or early use of Marijuana
before age 18 increases risks of developing
severe mental illnesses, psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia up to 7 times more
and depression-up to 4 times more.
• Side Effects to the brain and body short
and long-term: increased rapid heartbeat,
risk of heart attack, disorientation, sore
throat, lack of physical coordination, distorted perception, hallucination, confusion,
sleepiness, sedation, severe impact on
lungs and immune system, poor memory,
learning disabilities, temporary sterility in
men, interruption to the menstrual cycle, severe hereditary defects, premature babies with birth defects, mental
abnormalities, increased risk of Leukemia, lack of motivation, poor grades, inability to understand clearly,
extreme anger (hitting, breaking, pushing), mood swings,
panic attack and coma.
SCARY STATISTICS

• 12-17 year olds over 9% use Marijuana. Use before age
18 increases probability of psychosis by 35%; interrupts
and changes the connectivity of the brain cells forever.
• Over half a million emergency room visits are due to
Marijuana use. Majority of teens arrested for DUI: first
cause is alcohol, second Marijuana); 11% of youngsters
who die in car accidents use Marijuana.
• Marijuana users may decide to use stronger drugs to
mask problems. 80% of teens think drinking on weekends with friends and smoking pot is OK.

WHY OUR YOUTH USES DRUGS
Technology changed our
lives, making it comfortable,
exciting and resourceful to use
the internet, facebook, twitter, video
games, and texting. We are bombarded
with massive amounts of information and little time for
human contact, communication or affection. Technology
hijacked our emotions. We live in an era of brain hecticness, chaos, and confusion resulting in anxiety and
stress. Drugs and alcohol are a
way for people to escape reality,
calm their brains and release
stress. Marijuana, other drugs and
alcohol mask problems for a few
hours, then reality and unsolved
problems return more intensely
making us more sad, mad, and fearful. People use drugs and alcohol
not necessarily to feel good, but to
keep from feeling bad! As children
become over-indulged, stressed, impatient, and anxious,
a need for instant gratification increases as does selfcenteredness and isolation. One-on-one communication
is in the past and children have minimal contact with
families verbally, mentally and physically. Technology
replaces human touch and connectedness. Our youth
abuses drugs and alcohol to get high and feel nothing.
Take action if your child is struggling with drug or
alcohol abuse. I see many parents in denial for years
until it is too late. l
Nanaz M. Pirnia is a psychotherapist, nuerotherapist and
educational psychologist in private practice for over 24 years. A
consultant to many schools
including the Beverly Hills
School District, she specializes
in children and adults with
behavioral, emotional, social,
psychological or educational
problems and full evaluations
of children, adolescents, marDr. Nanaz M. Pirnia
riage, family counseling, and
neurointegration therapy. She
appears regularly on TV and radio offering innovative,
neurointegration therapy seminars to optimize the brain for
improved health. Her 20-page booklet, ”It’s Only Weed,
Mom” gives vital information on drugs and the side effects
and consequences of drug abuse, specifically with
Marijuana.
To purchase the 20-page booklet and an educational
DVD on drug abuse call 310.286.1480 or
email: nanazpirnia@yahoo.com. For further information
visit:www.MindTherapyCenter.com to find help for
yourself or someone you love.

// bhtmag.com // 19

The Road Trip
of A Lifetime!
A free-spirited artist discovers
love takes many forms in
Open Road a coming-of-age story.
Blu-ray & DVD May 21st.

Andy Garcia, Juliette Lewis,
and Camilla Belle.

Beverly Hills Bar Association

Litigation Awards Dinner
The

legal community honored two legal luminaries at the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s
Third Annual BHBA Litigation Awards Dinner.
The Hon. Christina A. Snyder, Judge of the U.S.
District Court for the Central District of CA,
received the “Ronald M. George Award for
Judicial Excellence,” named for the former
CA Supreme Court Chief Justice who retired in
2011. Marshall B. Grossman, a highly respected
trial lawyer and partner of the LA-based law
firm Bingham, received the “Excellence in
Advocacy Award,” honoring a trial lawyer whose
case successes resulted from expert legal skills,
unique trial strategy, courtroom teamwork and
Jonathan Stein Chair Awards Dinner; Honorees Hon. Christina A. Snyder; Marshall B. Grossman; gives back to the legal profession and comGov. Pete Wilson; BHBA President John K. Rubiner; BHBA Executive Director Marc Staenberg.
munity. “Judge Snyder & Marshall Grossman
are standouts among their peers and help to
advance the legal profession in many ways
in and out of the courtroom,” said BHBA Pres.
John Rubiner. The BHBA is heralded for
championing access to justice, an independent judiciary and the Rule of Law. l

# 1 COMEDY
From the
producers
of TED!

Jason
Bateman
Melissa
McCarthy
a smooth
talking thief
shops her
way across
the country living the highlife
on a stolen credit card.
Blu-Ray/DVD June 4th

The Tomorrow Inaugural Forum brought visionaries to share innovation and inspiration for Future
Beverly Hills Tomorrow Executives. Speakers were Nancy Aossey (President & CEO, International
Medical Corps); Michael Burns (Vice Chairman, Lionsgate); Lynda Resnick (Vice Chairman, Roll Global);
Dr. Eduardo Marbán (Director, Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute); Henrik Fisker (Founder, Fisker Automotive) as
the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce launched its signature event. “We designed the Tomorrow event to
celebrate the great ideas and bright minds that help make Beverly Hills, and Southern California in general,
such an innovative region that draws people from all over the world to reside as well as do business here,”
said Alexander Stettinski, Exec Director of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Without the foresight of
important cultural and business leaders who founded the city 100 years ago, and contributions of many
others throughout the 20th Century, Beverly Hills could not have evolved into the cultural icon and beacon
that attracts the world’s attention, welcoming thousands here each year. That’s why we want to look to local
visionaries who are helping to shape the way the world thinks and offer specific insights into the way business
evolve as we progress further into the 21st century.” Participants included Emcee Frank Mottek, veteran
broadcaster/host of the top-rated Business Hour and anchor of Money News, KNX 1070 News Radio and
Nancy Aossey (President/ CEO, International Medical Corps) who transformed International Medical Corps
into one of the largest relief and development humanitarian organizations delivering more than $1.4 billion
of assistance, health services and training to tens of millions of people in 70 countries since 1984. Audience
included business people of diverse backgrounds from small business owners to CEOs and entrepreneurs. l

MISTAKES
easier said than done. Credit no-no’s include
late payments, not paying and spending every
penny on a card. We also make mistakes that
aren’t so obvious. How many of these credit
busting mistakes have you done?
Closing Credit Cards Accounts
Surprisingly, closing a credit card is as bad as
paying late or not paying and shows up as a
credit error. A closed credit card account won’t
fall off a credit score for 7 years. Information
keeps recycling and recycling from the last
date you used the card and simply updates
each month showing you closed the account.
An open account that you don’t use is better.
Good credit needs long term accounts over
many years. Short term credit is not favorable
and lenders see it as risky. A history of older,
open accounts says stability. Keep balances
low and make steady payments.
Missing A Payment
Not making credit card payments is brutal to
your credit score. Lenders look at your credit
history of paying on time. It’s like looking
into a crystal ball...if you paid late in the past
you will pay late in the future. That brings a
resounding “no deal” from lenders or possibly
raises the interest rate you will pay. As far as
late payments go—the earlier that you pay
late—the better!
Settling A Past Due Account
Not the best idea, but better than nothing. If
you’re in debt a sum you can’t pay—more
often than not you can settle with a creditor
for less than what’s on your statement. BUT
this doesn’t mean all is forgiven. It is still
reported as negative on your credit report,
and a creditor can report is as an account
“deficiency” meaning there is money that was
not paid. If you make a deal not to pay the
entire amount talk to your creditor about NOT
reporting the deficiency or resign yourself to
paying them in full. If not your credit stays
negative for 7 years.
Charging Cards To The Max
Having high balances on credit cards causes
your credit score to plunge. Charge as little
as possible and keep balances low. Pay off
your card each month or pay more than the
payment owed to keep your interest low.
Stop Filling Out Credit Aps
Filling out credit applications means your credit
is constantly being checked. Every “inquiry”
is required by Federal law to be posted and
shows on your credit report for two years. The
less your credit is accessed, the better. People
who have a lot of credit inquiries are considered higher credit risks and that costs you
points off your total credit score.
www.annualcreditreport.com.
www. Credit.com l

No

matter what industry you’re in, or how far you go in your career,
the ability to effectively negotiate can make the difference between
success and mediocrity. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a multimillion-dollar contract, or an offer of a house sale.

The Rules Of Good Negotiating Are The Same

• Know what you want. Don’t go to the table without a clear, realistic idea
of what you want to achieve. It will help you negotiate with confidence.

Finance
Before you start any
negotiation look
beyond the “TITLE”
and make sure the
person you are
dealing with is in a
position of authority
to sign off on the
agreement.

• Ask for what you want. Don’t be afraid to make the first offer. You’ll set
the tone for the discussion. Studies suggest the negotiator who goes first
usually comes closer to getting what he or she wants. While I often counsel
people to let the other person go first, someone has to start the process.
I have found that either way, I need to be clear about my expectations or
I will be disappointed.

• Understand what your adversary wants. A successful negotiation should
satisfy both sides. Instead, of trying to crush your competition, find out what
he or she hopes to get, and try to work together toward a solution that works
for both of you.
• Don’t concede unilaterally. Usually one side or the other has to give
something up. If you offer something, be sure to get a comparable concession from the other person. Giving away something for nothing will be taken
as a weakness to be exploited. The playing field needs to be level. You
don’t have to accept being bullied.
Be ready to walk away. This can take a certain
amount of courage, but it’s necessary to avoid
being backed into an agreement you don’t want.
If possible, keep an ally in reserve – someone
with the power to approve or reject the deal.
This can give you an out if you need to turn
down a deal, or motivate the other side to
make the best offer possible.
•

Don’t rush. Time can be your friend if you’re willing to wait for the right deal.
If the other side senses a deadline, he or she may be motivated to hold out
until the last minute, or try to force you into accepting unreasonable terms.
Be patient and let the time pressure work against the other side.

• Be ready to walk away. This can take a certain amount of courage, but it’s
necessary to avoid being backed into an agreement you don’t want. If possible, keep an ally in reserve –someone with the power to approve or reject
the deal. This can give you an out if you need to turn down a deal, or motivate the other side to make the best offer possible.
•

Listen. Sometimes what the other side says is not the same as what they
want. They say the price is too high, but their most important demand is quality,
which almost always costs a little (or a lot) more. Pay attention for cues that
will help you direct your response to a better outcome for all.
Financier J. P. Morgan once wanted to buy a large Minnesota ore mine from
John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller sent his son, John D. Jr. to talk to Morgan.
Morgan asked, “Well, what’s your price?” He was unprepared for the response.
Junior said, “Mr. Morgan, I think there must be some mistake. I did not come
here to sell; I understood you wanted to buy.” l

Mackay’s Moral: There is no such thing as a final offer.

Harvey Mackay is a best-selling
author, international speaker and
business guru. His syndicated
business articles appear in more
then 75 newspapers throughout
the United States each week.
Mackay has sold more than 10 million books which have been translated into 37 languages worldwide,
are distributed in more than 80
countries, and found in almost
every library ever built.
// bhtmag.com // 21

22 // bhtmag.com //

// bhtmag.com // 23

SpotLight ...

Beauty & Health Tips For Summer

...
Dr. Oz’s 2013...
“Miracle Solution”
Every month is American Heart Month
so care for your body, heart and health.
Simply changing cooking oil improves
health. Whether its olive, almond, coconut,
peanut, canola, walnut, safflower or avocado
none compare to the powerful virtues of virgin organic Red Palm Oil, one of the most
nutritious and edible oils in the world. Palm
fruit oil’s red color comes from a high count
of betacarotenes and lycopene. These powerful antioxidants give vegatables and
fruits their red/
orange colors.
“Research
shows by adding red palm
oil to your diet
it can remove
plaque buildup in arteries
and prevent
blockages,”
Juka Ceesay
states Juka
Ceesay, founder of Juka’s Red Palm Oil, an
exclusive 100% organic and natural African
oil made in its native land. "It’s to our benefit
as Africans to stand against deforestation
as at Juka's Palm Oil. It’s our duty and to our
benefit as Africans to protect our environment and preserve our primary resources.
Wildlife and rainforests are what makes
Africa unique and special," she said. Fats
and other oils (margarine) take a long time
to break down and are stored as fat. Red
palm oil goes to
the liver igniting
metabolism, burning calories faster.
Dr. Oz suggests
using Red palm
oil in oatmeal and
on sautéed meats
and veggies. From
West Africa, Juka
has been in the Palm Oil business for years
and hopes to help African farmers sustain
a source of income by breaking stigmas
about African palm oil and deforestation.
Red Palm Oil in African specialty markets
or online. www.jukaspalmoil.com l

LOOK YOUNGER...FAST!
Tips For A Sun-Free Tan
Toni Brattin is founder/owner of Toni
Brattin & Co., Inc., a beauty & cosmetics
company based in Oklahoma. Her self-tanning product line is on the Home Shopping
Network and includes faux hairpieces and
spa-products. Here are her TIPS for a fab
summer filled with successful tanning
without the sun or a tanning bed.

24 // bhtmag.com //

Exfoliate and Moisturize
During cold months people don’t moisturize
skin properly and develop skin covered with
dead surface cells. Tanning without removing dead skin means
your tanning dead
skin that sloughs off
leaving splotches of
lighter colored new
skin where old skin
was. When you selftan with lotions and
sprays, areas like
elbows, knees and
ankles absorb more
product and turn
Toni Brattin
darker than other
areas. Thoroughly exfoliate first and moisturize problem areas BEFORE you tan. It
helps ensure an even distribution of tanning product and an even tan.
Jump Start An Indoor Tan
A little natural sun is OK for some people
offering vitamin D and stimulating melanin

in the skin which is a boost for faster and
darker results. Enjoy the outdoors, but protect against dangerous sun exposure. A
little exposure achieves a great tan without damaging skin and a quality self-tanning product ensures a beautifully tanned
summer body. www.tansecret.com l

The Blemish Stick by Indie Lee
A clear liquid can be used daily, speeds up
healing, reduces and/or eliminates blemishes. May be applied before/after
makeup. Contains zinc, salicylic acid,

camphor, and witch hazel for a calming
effect. The small stick fits into a purse.
$28. www.indielee.com l

properties. The broad
SPF 25 UVA & UVB
protects against sunburns and visible
signs of premature
aging. Available in
one shade; a selfadjusting pigment
technology is perfect
for all skin tones.
Available at select
online retailers and
spas nationwide.
www.gmcollin.com l

Mineral BB
“Beauty Balm” creams are the rage for
good reason! They are simple make-up
routines that offer numerous benefits –
including anti-aging and sun protection.
The latest launch from G.M. Collin skincare is the Mineral BB Cream SPF 25, an
all-in-one cream—a primer, foundation and
SPF, coupled with hydrating and protective

Nexcare’s 2013
“GIVE CAMPAIGN”
Nexcare Bandages, America’s Blood
Centers and The American Red Cross
celebrate the 10th Anniversary of World
Blood Donor Day June 14, 2013 where
Nexcare launches a limited edition of give
Bandages inspired by seasons fall, winter,
spring and summer to remind us that...
“It’s Always in Season to Give Blood.” The
collection offers two chic bandages per
season: flipflops for summer, snowflakes
for winter, foliage for fall and more.

REMEMBER...
• One pint of blood can save three lives.
• Blood shortages are more frequent in
summer due to vacations.
• Someone needs blood about every two
seconds.
• If 1% more people give blood, national blood shortages would completely
disappear for the foreseeable future.
• Most Americans will need a blood
transfusion at some point.
• Donors can give whole blood up to
six times a year.

America’s Blood Centers
Founded in 1962, America’s Blood
Centers is North America’s largest network of community-based, independent
blood programs. Recognized by the
U.S. Congress for critical work in patient
care/disaster/preparedness/response
and provides blood products and services
to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities in North America.
www.AmericasBlood.org
www.redcross.org l

Don’t Worry About Cholesterol!

Health & Wellness

By Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS
aka “The Rogue Nutritionist”

I’m going to tell you a secret—something that the
smartest, most cutting edge health professionals
know and have been talking about amongst themselves for a very long time. Get ready to be shocked.

High Cholesterol
Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease
Yes, you read that right, and before you dismiss it,
consider this: More than half the people admitted to
hospitals with heart disease have “normal” cholesterol
while fully half the people with “elevated” cholesterol are
healthy as a horse. Yet talk to people about keeping
their hearts healthy and you’ll invariably hear someone
say, “Yup, gotta do something about my cholesterol”.
Recently, cardiologist Stephen Sinatra and I came
together to write a book—“The Great Cholesterol Myth:
Why Lowering Cholesterol Won’t Prevent Heart Disease
and the Statin-Free Plan That Will”. We believe that a
weird admixture of misinformation, scientifically questionable studies, corporate greed, and deceptive marketing has conspired to create one of the most indestructible and damaging myths in medical history:
that cholesterol causes heart disease.

It’s Not True
Trying to prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol is like trying to prevent obesity by cutting out lettuce.
The famous Lyon Heart Study found that certain dietary
and lifestyle changes reduced deaths by 70% and reduced cardiovascular deaths by an even more impressive 76%, all without making as much as a dent in cholesterol levels. The Nurses Health Study found that 82%
of coronary events could probably have been prevented
were people to adhere to 5 lifestyle prescriptions, none
of which had anything to do with lowering cholesterol.
And that’s just the bare tip of an ever-growing iceberg of
the research we review in “The Great Cholesterol Myth”.
The real tragedy is that by putting all our attention on
cholesterol, we’ve ignored the real causes of heart disease: inflammation, oxidative damage, stress and sugar.
Things we can actually do something about using food,
supplements and lifestyle changes, none of which have
the costs—nor the side effects—of drugs.

Cholesterol Is A Vital Nutrient
Cholesterol is the parent molecule for the sex hormones and vitamin D. (No wonder loss of libido is one of
the most common side effects of cholesterol-lowering
medication!) It’s vitally important in the brain where it lives
in a specialized region of the cell membrane called the
lipid raft, making communication between cells easier.
Cholesterol is vitally necessary for memory and
thinking (loss of memory is one of the most frightening
“side effects” of cholesterol-lowering meds). The idea
that there is a movement underfoot to put children and
teenagers—whose brains have not yet developed—
on a statin drug to lower one of the most important
molecules for brain function, is an idea that should truly
frighten the informed parent.
Want more? The Framingham Heart Study, which
began in 1948 and is still going on, actually shows

clearly that high cholesterol is protective in older adults
—those in the study who lived the longest tended to
be those in the “highest cholesterol” category.

The Real Causes of Heart Disease
So if cholesterol isn’t the cause of heart disease,
what is? The short answer is this: The primary cause
of heart disease is inflammation.
Here is the simple version of what happens. Small
injuries to the vascular wall; injuries can be caused by
anything from high blood pressure to toxins and attract
all kinds of biochemical riff-raff (including but not limited
to oxidized (damaged) LDL-B particles) that then take up
residence in the area. The immune system responds by
releasing inflammatory cytokines creating even more
inflammation. More free radicals (oxidative damage)
form, more inflammation accumulates; eventually resulting in plaque and an increased risk for heart disease. If
there was no inflammation or oxidative damage, arteries would be clear. Cholesterol is a minor player and certainly not a causal factor.
Note that I mentioned LDL-B particles. Perhaps you’re
not familiar with those, but you should be. The old “good”
and “bad” cholesterol tests are woefully out-of-date, a
point we made on the Dr. Oz show. We now know that
LDL cholesterol—so-called “bad” cholesterol—comes
in several flavors, and not all of them are bad at all.
LDL-A cholesterol is harmless. LDL-B is not. Your
doctor can easily determine which type of LDL you have
with a simple test called a particle test. (Google it—it’s
offered by several different companies, and insurance
sometimes covers it.) Any other cholesterol test is utterly
useless. Best of all, LDL particle size can be changed
by diet. You’re not “stuck” with the bad kind (LDL-B); particle size. Distribution changes and responds dramatically in response to the right diet. (Hint: the “right diet” is
not low-fat!)

A 7-Point Program...
How To Prevent Heart Disease
The following is my 7-point program for reducing the
risk of heart disease. Note that lowering cholesterol
isn’t on it. Pay attention to these seven action items,
and you just may find that you don’t need to worry
quite so much about cholesterol after all.
1. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet. The plant kingdom
is full of natural anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants.
Berries, apples, onions, and cherries are outstanding
examples, but not the only ones. Wild salmon contains
anti-inflammatory omega-3’s as well as astaxanthin, a
powerful antioxidant. And put green tea, pomegranate
juice and dark chocolate in heavy rotation on your menu.
2. Reduce grains, starches, sugar and omega-6’s.
For many people grains—particular wheat—can be very
inflammatory. Sugar contributes to heart disease by creating damaging and toxic molecules known as AGEs
(advanced glycolated end-products) that contribute to
inflammation in the artery walls. (1) And omega-6 fatswhile necessary are pro-inflammatory, and we consume
too much of them. Refined vegetable oils like soybean
and corn oil are loaded with omega-6’s. Switch to olive

oil, macademia
oil, butter, real
lard and coconut
oil for most of
your cooking
and balance
your intake with
fish oil and
flaxseed oil.
3. Supplement
antioxidants,
vitamin C,
Coenzyme Q10,
omega-3’s.
Omega-3’s...
are among the most anti-inflammatory substances on the
planet and should be part of everyone’s heart-healthy
supplement program. Ditto with antioxidants vitamin C.
Coenzyme Q10 is fuel for the heart, but depleted by cholesterol-lowering medications, so if you’re on one... you
must supplement with Coenzyme Q10 on a daily basis!)
4. Manage Stress. Stress is a powerful contributor to
heart disease; its hormones create inflammatory events
that explain why 40% of atherosclerotic patients have no
other risk factors. (2) They raise blood pressure which in
contributes to vascular injury. Doing damage control on
stress levels is a critical part of your anti-heart disease
program. Whether meditation, deep breathing for a few
minutes several times a day, a warm bath with candles,
find time to relax. Your heart will thank you for it.
5. Exercise. There’s probably no better thing you can do
for your heart (and brain)! Even brisk walking 30-45
minutes 5-7 days a week can considerably reduce
your risk for heart disease.
6. Drink only in moderation. Alcohol is shown to be
somewhat cardioprotective, but, as they say, God is in
the details. Alcohol is involved in addiction, accidents,
crime and domestic violence. The key is whether “moderation” is something you can do. If not... don’t start. If it is,
then one drink a day for women and two a day for men is
fine (with red wine being especially recommended).
7. Don’t smoke. This one seems quite obvious, yet it’s
impossible to overstate how important it is. If you want to
reduce your risk of dying from heart disease—not to
mention cancer—throw out your cigarettes. Just do it.
No kidding.
Lowering cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease are very far from being the same thing.
The latter is important.
The former is just about irrelevant. l
REFERENCES
1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15306213
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11801260
Jonny Bowden is a board-certified nutritionist and
the author of the national best-seller, “The Great
Cholesterol Myth”.
Visit him at www.jonnybowden.com
follow him @jonnybowden.

love to lighten their hair BUT “lighter” is not for
everyone. If your goal is to appear more youthful
and refreshed here are some HOT Hollywood Tips.

Colorful Ideas For Your 20’s
Not battling age offers more choices in hair color. For
spring...ombre haircolor continues to reigns supreme,
but is less dramatic than last year. Go light on the ends,
but not dark on the roots. Thanks to Christina Aguilera
pastel hair can be your greatest wardrobe accessory.
Be cautious, however, it takes just minutes to destroy
hair, but several days to fix it.

In Your 30’s... The Look Should Be Natural
Keep it simple and stay close to your natural shade, like
Jennifer Lopez. I use warm chestnut browns and golden
medium blonds. Bright colors fade fast and require too
much maintenance, especially reds. All women above
30 should focus on enhancing their natural beauty.

40 And Above: What To Avoid
Ash colors, specifically ash blonds looked amazing in your
20s, but it's time to move on. Ash colors have cool undertones and can look almost gray. Use warmer tones for a
more youthful look—they make complexions come alive.
Try a blond shade with warm, golden undertones like
Naomi Watts or warm red or brunette shade like Kristin
Davis. Tell your stylist you want a warm shade, or if you
dye your hair at home avoid anything labeled ASH.

Common Mistakes
In Your 50s
Most common: going
too dark or too light.
I see women coloring
their hair black or very
dark brown. Covering
gray hair with black or
any dark color looks
unnatural as if a black
halo has been pasted at
the hairline. Instead,
add highlights or use
a color remover on the
before
dark, then switch to a
light brown. Women also tend to go too blond—another
mistake. Too light adds years to your face because it
makes you look pale and unnatural. Bleaching also
causes hair damage. For a youthful tone apply a medium
golden blond gloss. Problem fixed in 10 minutes. Brassy
colors are mistakes that happen when you try to go
lighter than your natural dark and cover gray hair. Try
two new formulas: one for gray hair which contains more
pigment; and one for dark hair which contains ash tones.

26 // bhtmag.com //

Save Time & Money On Hair Color Maintenance
The best TIP to keep roots from showing too quickly is
color your hair close to its natural color. It doesn’t mean
you can’t have fun...you can still get gorgeous and sexy
highlights, but when you have a lot of gray, color gray
with a lighter shade, and then add highlights around the
front. Roots won’t grow out as fast. At my salon, we do
quick and easy “root retouching” to cover gray in 15
minutes using a new
technology from Japan.
Also partial highlights
address the issue of regrowth in 15 minutes.

Should I Let My Hair
Go All Gray?
If you are going to do
this, I advise you start
the process with as flawless skin as possible.
Gray hair definitely will
age you. Second, make
certain your gray hair is
after
silky, smooth, shiny and
very healthy. Third, make
certain your hairstylist knows how to choose a flattering style for your shape face. Hair must remain in
healthy condition, as gray hair is often coarse, frizzy
and dry. Part of your regular hair care routine must
include awesome moisturizing treatments which
involve gloss and hydration, which is routine at my
salon for those who opt for the glamorous look of natural gray. l

Using Natural/Integrative
Intervention for Lung Cancer
Dr. Carl O. Helvie holds masters degrees from
Johns Hopkins, the University of California and a doctorate
in Public Health. Witrh more than 60-years experience as
an author, educator, researcher and nurse practitioner,
he has numerous prestigious awards from the
American Public Health Association and is listed in
several major national references including Who’s Who.

People think lung cancer is a death sentence.
More deaths are from lung cancer than breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. A lack of symptoms in early lung cancer allows progression to a
late stage before diagnosis. However, as a 38 year
survivor given 6 months to live by conventional
medicine, I know it’s not only possible to overcome
lung cancer but live into old age free of chronic illnesses and prescribed medications. What can one
do to prevent lung cancer? Causes of lung cancer:
cigarette smoking (89%); secondary smoke (3%);
radon, asbestos, diet, and unknown factors. Preventions include smoking cessation, avoidance of
secondary smoke, detecting/venting radon away
from living areas, avoide contact with asbestos,
and proper diet. I believe these are primary causes,
but not the cause, as additional factors for example, account for one smoker getting lung cancer and another not and may include improper diet, lack of supplements and exercise, inadequate sleep/rest, stress, negative attitude toward life,
and others that suppress the immune system, making individuals more susceptible. Research has identified these factors as influential in cancer causation,
treatment and prevention. Detection may begin with x-rays showing a change
in the lung not previously noted. These are usually followed by a biopsy to
confirm the diagnosis.
Many primary doctors and oncologists offer patients chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery that usually have a poor prognosis. The 5-year survival of
stage 4 cancer of any site is usually not more than 5%. When faced with lung
cancer, I chose natural interventions. My alternative physician’s prescribed
plan included: 1) laetrile; 2) supplements; 3) special diet; 4) detoxification.
I took Laetrile orally at 2,000mg daily for 2 years. Theoretically it’s specific for
killing cancer cells as enzymes in cancer cells release the cyanide in laetrile
whereas normal cells lack these enzymes and are protected. Supplements
were pancreatic and digestive enzymes, therapeutic doses of vitamin A and E,
vitamin B5, B15, vitamin C, yeast, calcium, magnesium, and lecithin. This was
similar to a vegan diet of 75% raw fruit, vegetables, cooked ones, grains and
nuts. No simple sugar or protein was allowed. Detoxing consisted of fruit and
vegetable juices one day each month. To this physical regime I added mental
and spiritual interventions such as meditation, affirmations, prayer, visualization,
serving others, strengthening patience and forgiveness. After 2 years of treatment the spot in my lung was gone. Still using a modified version of this lifestyle plan, I’m almost 81, free of chronic illnesses, prescribed medications
and remain cancer free.
Other successful integrative interventions in my book by physicians include
the Forsythe Treatment used by Dr. James Forsythe consisting of Poly MVA
and other plant-based homeopathic substances; 500 stage 4 cancer patients
using this formula had a 46% survival rate at 5 years. Dr. Francisco Contreras
discusses high dose IV Vitamin C therapy, Ozone therapy, therapeutic doses
of vitamins, herbs and natural supplements. The 5-year survival rate for stage
4 patients using his interventions greatly exceed those of traditional medicine.
Other chapters highlight body mind medicine, nutrition, and protocel. l
Carl O. Helvie, R.N., Dr.P.H.
www.BeatLungCancer.net
Helvie, Carl O (2012) You Can Beat Lung Cancer: Using Alternative/Integrative
Interventions. London: Ayni Books. Additions by Bernie Siegel, M.D.,
James Forsythe, M.D., HMD, Francisco Contreras, M.D.,
Kim Dalzell, PhD, R.D., and Tanya Harter Pierce. MA, MFCC

and 130 guests went to the Hollywood Museum for its Annual SHARE
Funding Reception. Chairman of the Board Mandie Rush said, “It is a
wonderful evening and very rewarding to watch the difference SHARE
makes in funding these terrific facilities”. Facilities that received grants
are: Ahead With Horses, CASA of Los Angeles, Center for the Partially
Sighted, CSUN Music Therapy Wellness Clinic, Exceptional Children's
Foundation, Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, I Have A
Dream Foundation - Los Angeles, Sophia T. Salvin Special Education
Center, Stuart House and Team Prime Time. The upcoming 60th Annual
"Denim & Diamonds Boomtown Event,” May 11th at The Beverly Hilton
Hotel’s International Ballroom and will honor Donelle Dadigan with the
Anne Jeffreys Sterling 2013 Shining Spirit Award. Donelle Dadigan is Founder/President of The
Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building. The
Boomtown Show is SHARE’s main annual fundraiser and this
star-studded western-themed party includes dinner, a silent/
live auction, and musical performance by the SHARE ladies,
surprise celebrity entertainers and actor/comedian John
Byner will emcee. SHARE, INC. is a non-profit philanthropic
organization of women committed to raising funds for “at risk”
youth, developmentally disabled, abused, neglected children,
and medical research for developmental disabilities. Founded
in 1953, SHARE, INC. has raised $50 million. 310.274.5361,
Share4Children.org or www.share4children.org. l
Donelle Dadigan, Kate Linder

LA-Based Indie Soul Artist Laura Jane
Not new to the music business, Indie Soul artist Laura Jane has a proven track as
an in-demand vocalist. She rousted onto the music scene with her debut album titled,
TO MY PLANET BOO which was released independently in 2005. Having taken some
serious soul-searching time to write, recreate and redefine herself as an artist, she
has released a sophomore album, EVERYTHING CHANGES. This soul-rooted collection of easy listening melodies and captivating lyrics not only emphasize her musical
quilt, but more than adequately showcase what makes LAURA JANE unique.
With extreme elements, of jazz, soul, poetry, Brazilian, Latin soul and even pop on
included, EVERYTHING CHANGES has a little bit of something for everyone. Laura’s
lyrics are thought provoking and innately well assembled—all come together to display
a serious growth and nurturing
ability at serious songwriting.
Laura Jane is an undeniable talent in an industry well
known for come-and-go artists
and not only an inspiration to
listen to but a true beauty to
watch perform!
For Laura Jane updates
make sure you check out her
incredible website.
www.laurajanemusic.net.
You can also up for a regular
mailing list on the website and
listings on her schedule.
On twitter:
www.twitter.com/sweetlaurajane1 and check her youtube

Animal World
Building Relationships Between Pets
By Cathy Unruh
HE is young, frisky and super-

Nationally Recognized Animal

charged. She’s older, slower,
Advocate and Best Selling
accustomed to her independAuthor of “Taming Me: Memoir
ence and own particular pace.
He rushes to her eagerly, expectof a Clever Island Cat
ing an enthusiastic welcome. But
she arches her back, raises her
fur, hisses and swats. He yelps, tucks
his tail between his legs and cowers,
slouching slowly away. His new human
looks on in dismay: what can she do to
overcome this disastrous introduction?
This scene plays out regularly in homes
as pet owners happily walk a new animal
companion across the threshold and the
pet or pets already in residence take
exception to the intrusion on their turf.
But it doesn’t have to unfold this way –
especially if humans do our homework.
To help build harmonious relationships
between pets, first know and understand
• If either animal displays aggression or
the personality of the animal who already
true abhorrence of this new creature, you
resides in your home. A mature dog not
may want to separate them and grow the
prone to chasing may well welcome a cat
relationship more slowly. Confine the new
as a companion whereas a rambunctious
pet to a room with a baby gate or in an
runner after every moving object may view
ample crate. Let the animals get to know
her as a toy. A well-socialized cat who
each other with this safety barrier between
loves to interact with others may greet a
them, then begin open playtime together,
puppy with curiosity and play behavior,
with supervision. Immediately interrupt any
while an aloof cat given to solitude may
negative behaviors by redirection or sepfeel intimidated and infringed upon. With
aration. Reward any positive interaction
the recognition that each animal is different,
with love and praise. Gradually increase
and that some homes already have multhe amount of time that the animals
tiple pets when a new animal is brought
spend together.
in, here are some general guidelines:
And, remember, when it comes to sen-

• Consider a new companion who is
younger and smaller than your current
pet. This reduces the chances that the
new resident will be seen as a threat.
• Create a calm, comfortable environment
for the introduction. Have some of your
current pet’s favorite playthings or treats
on hand. Ensure that the
new animal is somewhat
tired out so that the initial
meet and greet will not be
overly energetic.
• Reinforce any positive
reactions on either animal’s
part with words of praise
and pats of affection.
• Stay with the animals
as much as possible during
the initial phase of the
relationship, but let them
set the pace and work out
the parameters themselves,
just as long as they are
being peaceful.

30 // bhtmag.com //

#

tient beings with individual personalities,
there are no absolute rules. That cantankerous aging dog may think a new kitten
batting his snout is more fun than a walk
in the park. The pair of cats who have
ruled the rug for years may think the
giant German Shepherd rescue is their
own personal bodyguard brought in to
serve them. Almost any combination of
animals can work, given the
appropriate space, time,
and encouragement. l
Veteran TV Journalist Host of
“Up Close with Cathy Unruh”
is a Member of the Cat Writer’s
Association and the Florida
Writer’s Association. Cathy
helps people who are considering bringing a cat and a dog
into the same household and
teaches pet owners how to
become aware of their pets
interests and instincts which
are key for both pets to get
along.

// bhtmag.com // 31

Businessman • Real Estate Investor • Sports Franchise Owner • Chemist

The Amazing Life of an Incredible Man

Dr. Jerry Buss
By Dennis Freeman

Charity begins
at home. For the
late Dr. Jerry Buss,
charity was not
something to be executed with lip service.
It meant putting in the
time, money and energy when it came to
helping others. As one
of the most distinguished professional
sports owners of all
time, Buss walked the
walk when it came to
impacting the lives of
those less fortunate.
He kept a righteous focus and philanthropic commitment
to education, eradicating homelessness and bringing a
smile to a stranger. He didn’t give back to the United
Negro College Fund because it was a mandate for him to
do so. His desire to uplift, encourage and inform came
straight from the gut. Becoming involved with The Smile
Train was not a pretentious act. For Buss, it was a
desire for others to have an opportunity to smile
just as he did. Seeing people live on the streets
struck a chord with him. The homeless world is one
without secure shelter; moving from place to place
for food; peddling money to survive, being forced
to watch your back 24/7 from all kinds of criminal
elements. The homeless plight in and around Los
Angeles lit a fire under Buss so much so that it
moved him to do something about it. He made
numerous financial donations over the years such
as in 2009, when he gave $100,000 to the New
Image Shelter to combat homelessness in LA.
This was reflective of where his heart stayed right
up until his death this past February at age 80.
These many acts of kindness in helping others
were not a strange occurrence. Buss identified with
the hunger pangs that shot through a young child’s
body. He knew what it felt like having to go without.
He understood lack. Contrary to images of the glitz,
glamour and fame that came with the territory of owning the Los Angeles Lakers, perhaps the most marketable franchise in professional team sports, Buss
was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He
came from an impoverished background. Born in
Salt Lake City, he and his other siblings were raised
by his mother (Jessie) after his father walked out
leaving the family to fend for themselves. Over the
years he watched helplessly as his mother struggled
to make ends meet. When Buss was nine years old,
he moved with his mother to Los Angeles. “Along
those lines, he understood the taxation of poverty on
families and on kids,” said Bob Steiner, a close friend.
“Maybe his own background raised in him an obligation or sense of responsibility or desire to help.”

32 // bhtmag.com //

There we have it. A small-town kid who made it big in
the land of milk and honey. Through his charitable works,
he wanted others to know of the many gateways to a
better life. The first was education. He parlayed that message through monetary contributions to the University of
Wyoming and University of Southern California (USC);
schools he attended and graduated from. Armed with a
chemist degree from USC, Buss began as a chemist for
the Bureau of Mines (Mine Safety & Health Administration)
and worked in the aerospace industry. He landed on the
faculty of USC's chemistry department and was a contributor to the Trojans’ athletic programs, ultimately creating an endowment in the school’s chemistry department.
In 2008, Buss donated $7.5 million to USC's Department
of Chemistry to fund two endowed chairs and an endowed
scholarship fund for chemistry graduate students; the two
chairs were to be named after his mentors at USC, professors Sidney Benson and David Dows. As an inaugural member of the USC College Board of Councilors, he
never stopped stressing the importance of education. He
went to school and got an education to escape poverty.
His need to reach back for those left behind had little to
do with a tax write-off. His heart was in it to change lives.
For a man whose net worth reached upwards $600 million
(according to Forbes) the need to help others never left

him. And, his ongoing philanthropy extended to people
who were associated with the Lakers. As when former
Lakers player Walt Hazzard, a then adviser to the team,
suffered a catastrophic stroke in 1996. Buss kept
Hazzard on the teams’s payroll, and told Hazzard's
son that his father would remain a Lakers employee
for as long as Buss owned the team. When Hazzard
died in 2011, he was still a Lakers employee.
“Jerry Buss will be remembered as one of the greatest
owners in pro-sports history, as well as a very bright and
successful businessman,” said USC Athletic Director Pat
Haden in a statement that appears on the USC Trojans
athletics blog. “Those of us at USC also knew him as a
great Trojan. He had an affinity for USC and its teams dating back to his days as a student and teacher here. He
was extremely giving of his time and support for his Trojans.
Over the years, he was a familiar figure at many USC sporting events and he had a particular affection for Trojan
football, basketball and track and field, as well as the
Trojan March Band. The Trojan Family will miss him
dearly. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family
and to all those in Laker Nation who loved him.”
The importance that Buss put on education reached
far and wide. Among others, he created an endowment
at Michigan State with the Magic Johnson Scholarship.

“He was very, very intrigued and captivated by the United
Negro College Fund,” Steiner said. “It fit right in with
Jerry’s desire to help education. He and the Lakers were
major contributors to the United Negro College Fund.”
Buss religiously displayed a great love and support for
several nonprofit organizations including the Boys and
Girls Club of America as well as the Muscular Dystrophy
Association. While Buss was involved with well-known
organizations, he also managed to find time to get behind
smaller ones with miniscule resources on board. He saw
education and philanthropy as tickets to help make society
better, Steiner said. “Well, there were two driving forces:

One was education. He used to say that education was
freedom. That is what it was for him. By going to college
he was able to avoid a career as a laborer and be able to
get out of a small town. The other driving force for him
was to help those charities that had little resources. The
major charities... The Red Cross and American
Cancer Society are very worthwhile. But his heart
was also helping the homeless and poverty stricken.
The two important things were education and trying
to provide resources for organizations that had less
chance of helping themselves.”
The rags-to-riches story of Jerry Buss is an
envieable one and fit for the big screen. The age-old
adage of... “to much is given, much is required” is
often overused, but on occasion does not come
close to adequately describing individuals who can
conduct a carefully crafted orchestration in the
give-back-department —under the radar. Buss
didn’t carry himself like a pompous king on a
throne. His destiny was forged early in life with hard
work, sweat and tears. A rough road for some, but
for Buss, it fueled his desire for financial success.
In the beginning, he entered real estate investing
to provide an income so he could continue teaching.
His first investment in the 1960s was $1,000 in a
West Los Angeles apartment building. From there,
he pursued real estate investing full time, while
also dabbling in the movie business. In 1979, he
purchased the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA and
the Los Angeles Kings hockey team of the NHL,

The Forum, and a large
ranch from Jack Kent
Cooke. He sold the Kings,
but retained ownership
of the Lakers and The
Forum — a combined
$67.5 million investment.
He reached an advertising agreement with Great
Western Bank for the
naming rights to The
Forum, then officially
changed it to the Great
Western Forum Today,
the LA Lakers franchise
is estimated to be worth
a cool $1 billion.
What made Buss a
true businessman was
his ability to carve out a
bond with the people of
LA. Through his Lakers,
he combined the excitement of sports with the
excitement of Hollywood
and Los Angeles. It started with Magic Johnson,
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
and James Worthy, then
with Kobe Bryant, Pau
Gasol and Shaquille O’
Neal with coaches Pat
Riley and Phil Jackson.
The Lakers flaunted a rock star aura becoming the flash
and dash team of the NBA personified with the entertainment industry as a backdrop. Buss didn’t want just
any team. He wanted excitement; he wanted pizzazz.
He brought a sexy buzz to the NBA with the introduction
of the Lakers Girls. A high-stakes poker player, he liked
to win — which the Lakers have done better than any
other team in the NBA. Buss is widely recognized as the
defacto creator of the “Basketball Showtime Era,” he is
an NBA owner who collected 10 of the franchise’s 16 NBA
championships. No owner in professional sports has come
close to the degree of success Buss enjoyed as the Man
behind the Purple and Gold reign. It wasn’t just sports...
it was entertainment.
With a desire to bring the Lakers and their community
together, Buss and his Lakers reached out to underserved and at-risk communities and organizations, partic-

ularly those involving children and through them thousands
of tickets allocations and donation funds funneled down
to make it possible for those who never have a chance
to go to a Lakers game... find themselves courtside.
Much of this came from the Lakers Youth Foundation,
an organization Buss founded to reach at-risk youth and
the underserved. “Well, the record of his personal involvement and the Lakers personal involvement speaks to that
pretty clearly,” Steiner said. “He was raised in a very impoverished situation. His father left his family when he was
very young. He was raised by a single mother, along with
a half-brother and half-sister, and later on a step-brother.
He could see what poverty could do. There are stories of
him collecting newspapers trying to raise money for the
family. He saw what poverty could do.” Buss may be gone,
but the legacy he built and left is great. A father of six, his
children are involved and work for the Lakers franchise
in different capacities and Buss'
controlling ownership of the Lakers
passed to his children via a trust
managed by sons Johnny, Jim and
daughter Jeanie, with Jeanie assuming his previous title as the Lakers'
governor as well as its team representative at NBA Board of Governors
meetings. Whether it was overseeing shrew business strategies, collecting NBA titles or developing
invaluable community partnerships,
Buss left an invaluable imprint in
this world. The biggest testament
to his greatness was his humanity.
The Los Angeles Lakers will continue
as gatekeepers for that vision. “He
felt the Lakers could because of their
popularity, be a force for good in the
community,” Steiner said. "The NBA
has lost a visionary owner whose
influence on our league is incalculable and will be felt for decades to
come. His impact is felt worldwide,"
said Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant. l
At a Lakers game at the Staples Center; Jerry and his daughter Jeanie Buss

// bhtmag.com // 33

PURSUIT LA
For help with
your online concerns email:
niko@nikotakowsky.com

social networking • video games

BIG PICTURE
Out now and by the way...fantastic
is Steam's new BIG PICTURE which
comes complete and ready to use on
your television. I honestly think this
new Steam feature will change our
thinking about what we believe a television is used for. BIG PICTURE
can not only be used for television
and movies, but also to browse the
internet, download and play games
from Steam's huge library of games,
and socialize with your friends on
the Steam community. It is very
smooth and has a great feel. The
thing I like the most is that it is very
user friendly. I use it everyday to
browse the internet, chat with friends
and play games.

interesting, and then see it released
on Steam. Every game that gets
posted on Greenlight is customized
because the game developers post
specific information about the game
like videos, screenshots and basically
whatever they want releaed pertaining to the game. This Greenlight feature gives anyone in the world the
opportunity to make a game, and
then contact Steam and have the
chance to get it released on the market for millions of people to see.
I have personally seen several
incredicle games released on Steam
Greenlight and I enjoy getting a first
look at what I believe will be a sure
winner for gamers.

Niko Takowsky

Steam Community.
Steam is an incredible program
that I use on a daily basis on my
phone, television and computer. In
my opinion you can’t go wrong with
Steam and their services and prod-

ucts. For more information on Steam
visit www.Steamcommunity.com and
be sure to play Counter-Strike:
Global Offensive and Dota2 — both
of these games are fantastic 10/10.

STEAM GREENLIGHT
Steam Greenlight is a system
that uses the community’s input to
help choose which games they will
release next. This program is awesome because it gives everyone a
chance to pick what they want next.
It’s great voting for a game you find

One never learns by success. Success is the plateau that one rests upon to take breath and look down from
upon the straight and difficult path, but one does not climb upon a plateau.
~Author : Josephine Preston

34 // bhtmag.com //

50 Million & Growing
Happy Gamers
Worldwide.

Meet The Team
That Brought Us Valve

Gabe Newell - President
With 50+ million bated-breath users
whose mouths stay in a carp-like trance
waiting and hoping for the next megavideo game from Valve to hit the market,
few can deny that Newell is God in the
gaming community. From the way he runs
the corporation since it began in 1996,
it’s referred to as a “bossless company”
with perks floating around the Bellevue,
Washington DC office that include free
massages, espresso and laundry service.
I want a job! How does this uber-cyclonic
gaming company motate without bosses?
Quite well. Business increased by 50%
last year. Although it might be all games
over at Valve... NO bosses doesn’t
mean it’s all fun! Leadership trickles down from higherups as employees oversee employees and rank job
performance “voting” on who they believe are valuable
to the company—or not. Newell (a Harvard man) and former
employee at Microsoft—13 years in various positions in
the Systems, Applications, and Advanced Technology divisions that included running program management for the
first two releases of Windows, starting the company's
multi-media division, and pioneering information for the
Information Highway PC, has taken his company to new
heights as one of the biggest software/game developer/
video game distributor on planet earth. Steam owns one
of the rare independent app stores, second only to the
iTunes store and holds the reigns over 70% of the PC
video game digital download market to the tune (excuse
the pun!) of $2-3 billion in revenues. With accolades
mounting, Newell among other mentionables received the
BAFTA award for his contributions to gaming which helped
fulfilled a prophecy back in December 2010, when Forbes
touted him, "A Name You Should Know" for the major
successes of the Steam Team. A little over a year ago,
Newell’s estimated net worth sat in the ballpark of $1.5
billion. Who says video games are a waste of time? My
mom used to, but I’ve been changing her mind. l

Robin Walker - Lead Designer
If you haven’t played and... been obsessed with
Team Fortress 2, then stop reading right now because
neither this article nor any of my future articles are for
you! Since starting with Valve back in 1998 as a Software Developer and
Programer, Walker got
his name in headlines
as the co-creator of the
very first Team Fortress
mod for Quake. The
game was so successful
that Valve came knocking at this door asking
him to join their team.
His position as the lead
designer for the monster
hit Team Fortress 2,
created the most widely
played, most popular
franchises in the world

#1Video Game
Developer & Distributor
of Planet Earth!

of gaming. Within the Valve
family, he emerged a true
Valve frontrunner developing Portal, Half-Life 2,
Counter-Strike: Source,
HL2: Episode 1, HL2:
Episode 2, Left 4 Dead,
Opposing Force, Blue Shift
and Half-Life: Counter-Strike.
Walker is the appointed
voice for TF2, and does
most of the blog posts at
tf2.com, the games’ website and continues to be
responsible for design,
code, and management on
various Valve products. l

Joe Ludwig - Software Developer/Programmer
Nobody quite comes close to Ludwig’s sense of
the Valve style as he does making the rounds in
the high tech virtual reality headset designed
specifically for Team Fortress 2. S i n c e joining the
Valve team in
2009, Ludwig
has spent his
long work days
behind the scene
as a programmer
and seasoned
game develper.
Though not in the
capacity of an
“official” Valve
correspondant,
Ludwig frequents
the vast internet
gaming community getting
up close and
personal with
his loyal followers in the extensive blogs he is so
well known for, explaining the detailed ins and outs
of MMO tech and game development. Before there
was Valve, Ludwig spent years in the Flying Lab
Software department and, currently he is being touted as a lead in the ongoing future of Valve in the
extended virtual reality efforts that the company
continues to develope. l

Greg Croomer - Design & Communication
With a mantra of... “Getting rid of bosses makes for
better games...” Croomer is an advocate for Valve’s
organizational working structure stating at a conference,
“The actual career growth in an environment like Valve’s
is incredibly accelerated and it is something that allows
people to make progress exactly limited only by their
own desire and ability.”
With big ideas on
expanding the world of
adult gaming to a kidfriendly environment of
fun and teamship, he’s
a spokesperson for his
dream project titled
Akzidenz-Grotesk—a
gamers wonderland for
the younger set. Before
Valve, he was a freelance
product designer, went
to Nintendo and moved
onto Microsoft where
software products. l

Eric Johnson Business Development
Recognized as the lead guy behind the Dota 2
conceptual team, Johnson has come along way since
his days as a shoe and used
cars salesman. He was initially
introduced to Valve as one of
Sierra's Half-Life testers, then
offered a position as a Valve shipping manager before evolving into
a company business development authority, a job that
comes with a heavy load of
responsibility in the areas of pioneering game platform and making certain that every detail from cutting-edge conception technology to distribution is perfectly executed for
one of the worlds premier online gaming companies. l

// bhtmag.com // 35

By Niko Takowsky

The Best Of The Best
Whether you are a kid wanting to outfit your room with all your
favorite film, comic and gaming characters, or an avid collector
of pop art figures from Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics and more
— there’s one place that pretty much has whatever you are
looking for with insane sixth scale figures, statues, prop replicas
and life-size figures — SIDESHOW!

Men On A Mission
Doors opened in 1995, in a tiny garage with a few buddies who
had no idea they were going to make history. Looking back they
refer to themselves as being, “a handful of over-ambitious, undernourished friends…” Fast forward 15 years, and these guys are
known worldwide for their profitable ventures in a serious minded
industry that’s all about art, fun, iconic games and characters.
Big business can’t get better than this! SIDESHOW’s claim to
fame: they want to help people all ages celebrate their ongoing
love affair with the popular figural creatures we can’t get enough of.

This amazing Superman is set to release in
January 2014 with a limited edition of 5,000.
He stands 25” tall with incredible details down
to the life-like head sculpt and fabric costume.

In terms of legendary scale figures this is the best
that money can buy. Darth Maul stands 40” tall and
features a Light up Saber with amazing attention to detail.
Great for everyone and certainly Star Wars fans.

It Takes A Village
The SIDESHOW crew is a multi-cultural mix of artists, administrators and detailed techs who live and breathe perfection every
minute of their day job. Their success comes from the overwhelming passion they have for what they do, and it shows in the
life-like figures they offer—exceptional right down to the smallest detail. No wonder their collaborative relationships with filmmakers
and special effect houses the likes of Guillermo del Toro, Stan Winston Studio, Legacy Effects, Spectral Motion, Amalgamated
Dynamics Inc. and KNB Effects are long-standing. The award-winning limited edition collectible figures you find at SIDESHOW
range in different scales, but are primarily: 1:6, 1:4, 1:2 and life-size.

Let The Show Begin
Once a collector... always a collector, and whether you are a kid or an adult, you want
the best. And, the amount of choices are endless whether it’s Star Wars, The Lord of
the Rings, Marvel Entertainment, DC Comics, Indiana Jones, Terminator, Predator,
Alien, Disney, Avatar, Transformers or G.I. JOE and beyond… you will find what you
want, or can find out when you can get it if it’s not available yet. SIDESHOW’s proprietary retail lines reflect the passion of their in-house artists, including dinosaurs
(Sideshow’s Dinosauria), zombies (The Dead), and historically accurate figures
(Live By The Sword, Fife and Drum, Brotherhood of Arms, Six Gun Legends, Bayonets
and Barbed Wire). Get ready. If you’re a collector… a new life has begun! l
My favorite and one I‘ve been waiting for
a long time is the Dr. Doom Legendary
scale. Check Sideshow’s website for info.
1.855.SIDESHOW
www.sideshowcollectibles.com

Available right now is the Captain
America Premium Format figure. It has
a small limited edition of 1500 and is
a very nice edition for any collector.

36 // bhtmag.com //

The Classic Punisher which is set to release
January 2014 is 23” tall and features his
automatic shotgun and fabric costume.

Definitely one of my favorites and soon to be in my collection is
the Wolverine Legendary Scale Figure standing an amazing 31” tall
and about 35 pounds. Featuring metal claws and the classic Wolverine
costume we all love. This figure is set to release very soon.

Health

SportsFit treating
chronic back pain
without surgery!

& Technology

My Fitness Pal

By Anthony Phills
Welcome to the Digital Lowdown.
My name is Anthony Phills, your go-to guy
for all things digital. On this page I’ll bring you
information on the new digital future opening
up before us today. I will keep you up to speed
on the latest gadgets, the evolution of the digital home, the advent of intelligent cars, the
miniaturization and expansion of computers,
the growth of mobile platforms and the other
innovations that will change our lives.
As a technology consultant I have been assisting celebrities for over 10 years with their
tech needs. In doing so I have been exposed to
some amazing stuff, from essential machines
to beautiful toys. Since technology moves
so fast you’ll want to know whether to get
what’s hot now, or wait for things to get cool.
That’s where I come in. I’ll get you the 411 to
make the right decision for you. E-mail me at
DigitalLowdown@Phills.com with your questions, I’ll give you the digital lowdown.

I was looking for an app to help you with
your fitness goals. Who better to ask than
Sandra Jersby, a NASM Certified Personal
Trainer and a Performance Enhancement
Specialist (PES) with a graduate degree in
Nutrition and Food Science. She guided me
to the My Fitness Pal.
Loose weight for free with MyFitnessPal.com! “MyFitnessPal is a diet and fitness
community with one purpose in mind:
providing you with the tools and support
you need to achieve your weight loss goals,”
Jersby said. Research has shown that keeping a food and exercise journal doubles
your weight loss. By staying consistent with
your food tracking the more successful you
will be with your weight loss, which is why
so many successful weight management
programs suggest logging your food intake
in an activity log. It is easy and fast. Since
you are more likely to stay on track, the
more likely you are to succeed in your fitness goals.

you can add your recipes and access them at
any time. MyFitnessPal also offers support
and motivation in their discussion forums
and lets you ask questions, receive motivation to stay on track, get tips and make new
friends. This system also lets you be flexible if you are following a specific diet plan,
such as the South Beach Diet, the Zone and
more.

Sandra Jersby

But, if you want that one on one attention, I would recommend Sandra. She is
one of my trainers and does a great job in
keeping me fit and up-to-date with new
training techniques. For more information
contact Sandra at Nutrifit2010@gmail.com,
visit her site: http://swedefit.com or call her
at 424-262-4FIT. Then check out and join
MyFitnessPal.com and start your path to
healthier living today!

Last month I was invited to the opening of SportFit Physical Therapy & Fitness
in Santa Monica by Rick Rafael, founder
and Melika Rafael, co-founder to see the
new DRX9000 to treat chronic back pain.
SportsFit is one of two companies in southern California with the DRX9000.
Rick has been looking around for a solution for his clients with chronic back pain.
He found the DRX9000 which is effective
in treating low back pain associated with
herniated discs, bulging disc and degenerative disc disease, allowing patients to return
to an active lifestyle. Melika said that it
takes about 20 sessions over the period of
six weeks and each session lasts 30 minutes.

Garmin Edge® 810

Web: www.Phills.com
Email: DigitalLowdown@Phills.com

Design Corner

I went into my design archive and
found the custom FILA shoes I designed
for Barry Bonds when he became the
Home Run King in 2007.
How Does it Work?
First download the free MyFitnessPal
app on the iPhone or Android phone. It’s a
simple format that lets you store food easily on your phone or computer from anywhere with an internet connection, and it
remembers what you’ve eaten and done
activity wise.
The more you track your meals, the
easier it gets! With database over 2 million
items and growing, you are able to create
your own personal food database where

I haven’t been riding my bike because of
all the work I’ve been doing, but the new
Live Tracking feature from Garmin lets
me follow my friends as they train or race
in real time. Simply invite followers using
email or social media, and they can view
your live data on Garmin Connect. Once
your friend get the email invite, they can
follow and see your stats and location on
the map. For more information visit http://
Garmin.com

Where’s the tech in this? First you input
key information on the touch screen about
the user into the DRX9000 system and select the lumbar segment to be treated. Then
when you start the process, the DRX9000
gently releaves pressure between the discs
and allows the back to begin a natural
healing process. After each treatment
your session information is stored in your
DRX9000 profile or you can printed out for
your records.
For more information contact SportFit Physical Therapy & Fitness on 2010
Wilshire Blvd or call 310-776-7878.
Rock on
// bhtmag.com // 37

38 // bhtmag.com //

The Boys In The Band
Combining their passion for making music with of love of their country
and allegiance to the soldiers fighting for our freedom,
this incredibly talented crew of musicians takes the experiences they
had while deployed in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and
hits the music scene with all the power of men on a mission.
By Suzanne Takowsky

ROCK BANDS! Certainly it’s the excitement of
the heart pounding beat and gyrating lyrics that touches
our souls and draws us into the very moment of their
love, pain, happiness, betrayals, love and loneliness. But
let’s face it… just as compelling as the music is the
over-riding lure of the Boys-in-the-Band. It’s their drama,
stories and journeys in life and all of their struggles and
triumphs— ALL that is what we feel with every beat of
the drum, string of the guitar and word they belt out.
And, looking at the backlog of all these oh so very
famous Boys-in-the-Band, the genius behind the songs
that make them unforgettable is an undying undercurrent
of provocative and compelling words of wisdom. Words
of wisdom from a ROCK BAND? YEP. Boys-in-the-Band
have managed for decades to usher a worldwide web
of generations through the road map of life as we made
our way through the trials and tribulations of war, civil
unrest, political upheaval, international discord, and
generations coming of age. And they do it with music
and lyrics as their muse, and a roaring combination of
raw showmanship and unbridled talent.
I can’t count the times I’ve been in the trenches of
a crappy moment or hour or day, and am driving in my
car, switching radio stations desperately on the hunt for
a song to take my focus away from the downpour I’m
having. Then, it happens. I hear the beat. Lyrics climb
through the voices like old friends greeting me. And I’m
off on a tangent singing along to a song that is meant
just for me at that moment in time. The realism attached
to the songs we love carries the power to initiate a burst
of happiness, inspire love and romance, or bring tears
to our eyes as we translate what we hear into what’s
going on in our own lives.
But what the Boys-in-the-Band go through to gain
our acceptance and loyalty is nothing short of a miracle.
Most certainly we fall in love with the romance of their
“over-night success stories.” Likely it’s because their
rags to riches sagas keep our own star-seeking fires
fueled with the hope and desire that one day… maybe
one day just like the Boys-in-the-Band… we will “make it”
too. In real time, however, most over-night successes
take years to achieve. And what we think of as amazing
luck or perfect timing is nothing less than pure determination and the perseverance and passion of a person
—or a group—that wouldn’t give up their dreams. All
those on-the-road, tall tales we hear from musicians
recalling periods of poverty, living in cramped rooms,

sleeping on dirty couches, eating only because of the
generosity of family and friends. Hard to believe? Well,
sort of. Especially, since before us sits a successful,
uber-talented music star who makes it impossible to
imagine that he/she could have lived any other life than
the one they have right now. The key here seems to be
the ability to navigate though the ups and downs and
twists and turns in an industry filled with more talent
than guts. The music business is not a job opportunity
for the faint of heart. But for those not afraid to fight for
what they want, longevity and success in “the biz” all
comes down to a very old saying: It’s not about whether
you want something. It’s about how much you want it!
When I told my kids I was off to interview a real live
rock and roll band I got a heartfelt round of verbal
applause. First question: My sons asked…who is the
band? Second question: My girls asked…. are they cute?
The band is called THE SECRET STATE, and YES the
Boys-in-the Band are very cute. Even at my age, it’s not
difficult to appreciate the sex appeal of five adorable
guys (20s and 30s) who get on a stage and make
magic with a collective talent for creating great music.
Band Members include: Daniel (Dan) Martiniano, lead
vocals; Piano Joshua (Josh) Jones, guitar and vocals;
Hunter Schafer, bass, backup vocals; Daniel (Danny)
Espinosa, digital performer; Michael (Mike) Marx-Gibbons,
drums and violin.
Make no mistake. This is no flash in the pan—let’s
give it a shot—get-together. These are serious, dedicated
musicians and performers, who have fine-tuned their
combined talents for writing and playing music for many
years. And, the “band” is not an after-thought they turn
to when their day jobs end. Their music is their passion
and their passion is their life. That said, they have not had
an easy time getting to where they want to go. And they
still aren’t there. But they are getting closer day by day.
THE SECRET STATE continues to reach new career
heights and gain industry recognition as opening acts
for bands including Hinder, Jack’s Mannequin, Tantric,
Shinedown and others. Their great sound and energetic
performances both nationally and internationally have
garnered the a HUGE following, and they are a hot ticket
on Facebook, Twitter and Utube. After performing three
consecutive years at the famed South By Southwest
(SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas and making the
rounds playing concerts, live music bars, and outdoor

concert festival venues, the group is finally reaping the
rewards of their long, and at many times difficult journey. The critical acclaim they are receiving from fans,
peers and music industry higher-ups now is a testament
to their strength of character, a unique electronic tinged
sound and their boy-next-door good looks. On the cusp
of what they have been working towards their entire lives,
Dan, Josh, Hunter, Daniel and Mike have all the makings
of a slow burn of greatness just over the horizon.

“We finally just made the
decision that we had
to go with our passion
and belief that we had
what it takes to make it in
the music business.”
Three of the guys who started the group (Dan, Josh
and Mike) have been together since they were teenagers in the same small town in Ellicott City, just outside
of Baltimore. They were friends before they were bandmates, which according to Josh doesn’t mean that they
don’t have creative disagreements and arguments over
the usual roommate/workmate day-to-day. But because
they were friends before they were a band, the history
of who they were, where they came from, with an eye on
where they want to go—keeps them grounded in the
comfort of having one another to lean on. Another HUGE
element of the group’s compa style comradery-flow
stems from the fact that three member of the group,
Mike, Josh and the group’s second Dan (Espinosa) all
served tour duties in the Armed Forces in the early
2000’s. And, as overnight success stories go, their combined years duty time in Afghanistan, South America,
and Iraq took place before, during and after they had
formed their core group, and made plans to move from
Baltimore to Florida to begin their musical careers. In
theory it could have been an easy slide. But as things go
when reality steps in… not quite.
continued page 40

// bhtmag.com // 39

A dramatic scene filmed for the video takes place at the “Painted Rocks” a place where every military
unit that has completed training at Fort Irwin paints their unit patches on a gigantic rock outside the front gates.
This budding music scenario, however, actually began
when the Boys-in-the-Band were just kids in grade school.
Josh for instance started playing the violin when he was
10-years old, as did the other members all who found
their musical beginnings in school plays, music classes
and a longing to have what they heard on the radio. From
there it was onto high school bands, and always the lure
of music followed them even as they went off to college.
Most of the guys by then, had without a moment of true
acceptance reluctantly succumbed to the idea of going to
college and getting good grades to get good jobs. No
doubt, lucrative careers were waiting in the wings with
9 to 5 white shirts and black tie jobs. But standing in the
way of this perfect picture was the fact that none were
happy or at peace without music in their lives.
“Dan, Mike and I went to high school together and started the band during our sophomore year,” says Josh who
spent his early years living in different countries that were
tied to his father’s job-related position. “When I got old
enough to attend high school, my parents decided it was
important for me to be settled in one school and start
getting things set so I could attend college.” When I ask
Josh how it was always moving from place to place, he
chalks the experience up to teaching him about life and
giving him the tools he needed to make the “world” his
friend. “I never thought about it as odd or difficult. But
rather I saw it as a way to learn about people and different cultures around the world. Yes it’s hard to leave the
friends you have gotten to know. But you are also in a
position to make new friendships as you grow, and the
experience that I lived broadened my ability to appreciate what people in different culture go through in life.
It prepared me for a life of being in a band.”
Let’s talk about that “band” kind of a life for a minute.

40 // bhtmag.com //

The guys tells me it’s like being in a dysfunctional marriage—only with FIVE men. A scary thought! And making
it work in the day-to-day comes down to accepting and
adjusting to different ideas, different backgrounds and
different personalities. But they all agreed on one thing:
without question there is always a conflict over something that tends to put things on hold even if it’s just for
an hour or two. The group also agrees that adjusting
to and working through differences and accepting that
no matter... they will come is just part of the creative
process; part of the mayhem; an element of the “band”
process that never goes away, but does go into creating
a great sound and great music. It’s a process most bands
go through, and it makes the difference in whether a
band makes it or not. It also moves along the process
of weeding out members who don’t quite fit, and offers
an open space to those who do. THE SECRET STATE
went through numerous bass and guitar players and
selections of who should stay. And who would go... it was a
collective decision that every band, every business has to
make if they want to move forward. In this case, creating
and playing outstanding music was the goal and these
guys were prepared to do what it took to make it happen.
As Josh says… “We just finally made the decision to
go with our passion and our belief that we had what it
takes to make it in the music business.” Needless to say,
at least for the time, out went the college educations and
any hint of college diplomas that might have been lurking
around the corner, and an absolute true-blooded band was
born. Not surprisingly, none of their parents were thrilled
with the prospect of watching their sons give up the promise of good paying future employment to hit the skids
looking for a career playing rock and roll in smoke-filled
bars filled with every vice known to mankind. Too bad.

All was a “GO” for the day-to-day of city to city tours,
midnight gigs, little sleep, lots of hard labor lugging equipment from venue to venue, little pay and living in a van
filled with cramped everything, eating drive through food
when they could afford to eat. The “good life” was coming
on fast, and the taste of their music dreams coming true
were in sight. BUT not yet. Ironically Mike got deployed to
Iraq to serve as a combat medic for the U.S. Army on the
eve of their departure to make it BIG in Florida. That left
Josh and Dan to take a close look at Plan-B if they wanted
to move forward with rooting the band. Not an easy task.

“Night after night touring,
living in a van, pulling a
trailer for months at a
time, eating crackers...
just barely surviving
and then there were
those calls to our parents
asking for money
when we had to get
something fixed or we
needed to buy food.”

RUNWAY RHYTHM
By Nataliya Joy Prieto

LA Comes Alive

Fashion • Celebrities • Kids • Fun
SUR Lounge

on Robertson Blvd., i n
L o s A n g e l e s hosted "Untapped Fashion
& Music" to celebrate Fashion Week. More
than 500 guests attended for a night of fab
and fun starting with Celebrity DJ Lindsay
Luv who rocked turntables for the first half
of the evening before DJ Big Chunk took over
and kept the crowd bouncing until the wee
hours! Six designers: Adriana Marie Designs,
Divine Elegance, Heidi Gardner, Diva Steps,

Get Kids Growing
Interactive Gardening

Workshop

Voots® Veggie-Fruit Tarts
& Kidsgardening.org in
Partnership with celeb
mom Christina Milian
hosted a day of fun showing kids how to grow their
own veggies and
fruits, and learn to
eat good food for a
healthy body. The
event was held at
The Americana at
Brand in Glendale, Christina Milian, daughter Violet
CA. and kicked off
as Milian delivered
a message with
goosd food tips.All
were greeted by
a six-foot Eureka
lemon tree housed
Keli Couture and Humanity Bracelets by
in a seven-foot gardening
Josh Pino were showcased via a live still
pot, surrounded by thouinstallation in the beautiful Sur garden. VIP
sands of mini gardening
guests included NFL player Brandon London,
pots ready for kids to grab
Stassi & Jax from Vanderpump Rules, Emmy
and plant their own carrots
Rossum, Patrick Hartigan, Calvin Seabrooks,
and tomatoes, and learn
Kelchhi Francis, Parker Wright, Mona May,
how to garden. “We are
Kaitlyn Benson, Ivan Sergei, Teyana Tayor,
here on this beautiful day
Edward Finlay and others. l
to teach you all about the
importance of eating fruits
and vegetables and staying active,” said Milian.
Nataliya, husband Stephen Takowsky
During the
with their daughter Edith
event Voots
Veggie Fruit-Tarts
along with
Kidsgardening.org
announced the new
“Get Kids Growing”
Garden Grants, a
program that will
implement gardens
at schools around the
country. Voots VeggieFruit Tarts supplements
for kids 4-plus provide
Vitamin C antioxidant
power of 3-servings
of fruits and veggies.
www.voots.com.
www.garden.org
International Supermodel www.kidsgardening.org
Event Founder Jordana
Photos: Voots® Brand l
Sam Sarpong
DJ Linsday Luv

42 // bhtmag.com //

Artist Tommy Hollenstein with kids at Play Day

Shane's Inspiration's
My Play Club
My Play Club, a free community program brings
together kids of ALL abilities for a play date. Tommy
Hollenstein, a Shane's Inspiration Board Member and
noted artist was on hand to give painting pointers. He
uses the wheels of his wheelchair as his paintbrush
and showed kids how he paints. He helped them create spectacular paintings they took home. The Shane's
Club Youth Choir performed Frank Sinatra's, "You Make
Me Feel So Young" at the Good Time Share! at Aidan's
Place Inclusive Playground at the Westwood Recreation
Center. The Malibu Jewish Center was the Arts and
Crafts sponsor and Nancy Arnold, a volunteer sponsored the Accessible Bus and donated a new microphone for use at Shane's Club.
www.shanesinspiration.org
Photo: Jerri Hemsworth/Inspiring Play Magazine l

A Star Is Born...

STACEY WOODS was born in Lodi and raised
in Stockton, California. At three years of age she began
ballet, tap and jazz, and was already in love with the
performing arts and loved making friends and family
laugh to tears and side aches with her one-girl-show
performances. At her dance studio she began student
teaching which landed her a spot on a competitive
dance team. After high school, Stacey moved to
Southern California to follow her dreams and attend a
college with superior modern dance, rhythm tap, salsa,
swing, and improv programs. Working her way through
school, it was the famous Hollywood face-in-the-crowd
scenario when she was approached and encouraged
to meet a woman who soon after became her agent.
The modeling world was new and exciting and
brought incredible traveling opportunities as one door
led to another. Acting was fast becoming a new a
passion, and because of her love for improv, as her
acting career took off... she became involved with
sketch comedy groups that morphed into bit TV roles
and film. It seems her reach for continuing her education never stopped. Learning so much from hours
upon hours on sets of various TV shows and films,
she became intrigued with behind-the-camera action,
and driven by her creative artistic collaborations is
building towards a production company of her own.
Stacey resides in Malibu, and enjoys a full time
career of modeling and acting. Quiet time is spent
writing, hiking, she practices yoga, loves scuba diving,
and plays a mean game of golf and tennis.
thestaceywoods@gmail.com l

// bhtmag.com // 43

LA ART SCENE
By Mandara Takowsky
mtakowsky @yahoo.com

Aaron Redman
presents “This Is LA”

Photographer

a brilliant book on the most famous city in the world!
LA was so beautiful..." Then, I know that
I am doing it justice. Finally!

When people think of Los Angeles...

an exciting visual of Hollywood isn’t far
behind. LA is built on special effects and
the grandeur of a big city with the cliquishness of a small town people can’t get enough
of. LA-based photographer Aaron Redman
has assembled an incredible book of
images that make Los Angeles truly a city
of dreams. Aaron’s photography career
began when he was 12-years-old and his
grandfather gave him an old 35mm Ricoh
rangefinder camera. After shooting his first
roll of film and seeing what his efforts
brought forth there was no going back. He
says he was hooked and has loved shooting,
developing and spending every moment
he can in a darkroom printing.
LA is as known for its history as much as
the movies it makes. You rise above the
obvious and bring the everyday to life.
Growing up in Orange County, Downtown
LA was a mysterious and infamous city...
"Don't go to Downtown LA, you might
not come back"... In the 70s-80s maybe
that could have been true, but not any
more. For the first time, my wife, a friend
and I went to a movie at the Los Angeles
Theatre on 6th and Broadway. We walked
the streets of DTLA at night, and nothing
happened. I wanted to find all the places
"you shouldn't go" and bring attention to
them. It's OK to walk the 3rd Street tunnel,
or walk under Grand Avenue. Yes, there
are homeless people, but they are as
afraid of me as I am of them. Or so I tell
myself. I choose obscure locations and
then show them off in a better light. When
people tell me, "I didn't know Downtown

44 // bhtmag.com //

Is it hard getting a perfect natural light
shot at just the right time of the day?
I’ve always photographed by the theory...
right place, right time. I shoot with both eyes
open so I don't miss what's around me.
You would be surprised at how much you
miss when you're not looking. I'll take
shadows over bright lights. There’s so
much more character in shadows; things
you may not want to see in the daylight,
I put the “spotlight” on it in a new way.
How did you choose locations in a city
filled with thousands of options?
There’s something special about LA. It has a
million stories to tell.
It's unfortunate we live in
a "throw away" society.
But the reality is nothing
really goes away! If you
look enough, the untold,
discarded stories are
for the taking. My goal
is to bring all these
incredible stories to life
for us to enjoy forever.

What do you love about photography?
Growing up, and due to a medical condition, I was small for my age and the victim of horrific bullying. Photography was
the one thing I found that I didn't need in
order to "fit in." I could be me. I could be
on my own and have fun. Looking back
it seems that the only time I wasn't being
beat up, or put in a trash can, or jammed
into a locker at school, was when I had a
camera in my hand. Maybe that is the
reason I prefer to shoot all
the discarded stories...
Everyone, and maybe everything deserves a second
chance to "fit in." My work
is my passion. l

www.photographybyredman.com

LA -based photographer Aaron
Redman unveils a true visual effects
book based on the City of Angeles
filled with nothing less than a
spectacular real-life Hollywood movie.

th
than 1,000 of America!s top ba
allroom and
ngeles at the
Latin danc
ce athletes competed in Los An
33rd annual USA DANCE National Da
anceSport
/hosted by USA
A DANCE,
D
Inc.,
Championships, organized/h
the National Governing Body for DanceSp
port in the U.S.,
and USA member organization of the U.S. Olympic
Committee
ee and World DanceSport Fed
deration (WDSF).
The 3-day, continuous dance event at the
e JW Marriott at
LA LIVE, brought amateur DanceSport athletes who had
qualified throughout
hroughout the year at one or more of the 12 USA
Dance National
Nat
Qualifying
y g events in the U.S. The event
8am and went until 11pm each day with the
began at 8
excitement growing with each dance. Superstar “Dancing
With The Stars” judge Bruno Tonioli added to the thrill as
Honorary Judge giving trophies to winners. The USA Dance
2013 National DanceSport Championsh
hips is the official
National Championships
Cham
for Ballroom/L
Latin competitive
dancing an
nd the most prestigious and largest competitive
dance event of its kind in America. A bon
nus was the prestigious 4th annual USA Dance Star Qu
uality Awards on
Friday and Saturday nights, sponsored b
by Swiss watchmaker Ernest Borel, a brand sponsor of
o USA Dance Inc.
USA Dance Inc, a 501c3 nonprofit organization
i i
h
has
174 chapters representing social, recreatio
onal ballroom
and latin dancers from pre-schoolers to sen iors.
Along with the WDSF, USA Dance supp orts
world organiz
ganizations to gain national an
nd
global acc
ceptance for DanceSport as
an official medal sport in the Olympics.
With 23,000
000 U.S. members financially
supporting the programs, and with an
outreach of 225,000, USA DANCE
serves as a leader and is authorized to solicit and receive dona
donations to support its promotional and
educational programs including K12 after-school dance programs.
Its mission is to improve quality and
quantity of ballroom dancing in
America. www.USADANCE.org !